Maele In Opposition Courtship
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday April 29, 2019 18:00
The former Lands minister was suspended for 12 months from the party. This means that he will not contest elections under the BDP ticket in October this year.
Maele was called for disciplinary action after he declared his undying support for former president, Ian Khama, at a Kgotla meeting in Moremi recently.
This led to amongst others his primary elections opponent Sethabelo Modukanele and Pinny Morupisi writing a letter of complaint to the party.
Maele won primary elections by 3,528 votes while Modukanele got 3,231. He did confirm that the opposition parties have been courting him to join them.
“It is true two presidents for different political parties approached me to contest under their parties. I can’t rush to make any decision on the matter. I am still consulting with my voters and I will make a final decision on the matter within three weeks,” he said.
Furthermore, “different people are also giving me advice. Some people in the BDP want me to serve the sentence and quit active politics after, while others want me to contest as independent candidate. I will have to consider all these options after I have consulted people.”
Meanwhile, Alliance for Progressive secretary general, Phenyo Butale said; “ I am not aware of any negotiations but as a party we welcome any new member.”
Umbrella for Democratic Change spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said he was not aware of any negotiations between the Umbrella and Maele but could not dispute some members might be recruiting him. “Every member of the party is entitled to recruit new members,” Mohwasa said.
For his part, MP for Tati East Samson Guma Moyo said he was not angry with the decision that President Mokgweetsi Masisi made.
“I will go and consult my constituents on the way forward. I will not contest the decision they took. I was very clear that I was not going to vote for Masisi and I believe he was not wrong to expel me because he also feels that he can’t work with me,” Moyo explained.