Masisi in a last-minute bid to woo voters
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday April 3, 2019 08:10
The much-publicised elections, which will be held for the first time in the party history, are billed for Kang. Masisi is tipped to win the elections and he has had difficulty concealing his optimism during his campaign.
Masisi’s opponent at the elections Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi staged a final press conference on Monday in Gaborone where she bemoaned that the President has deployed underhand tactics in a bid to win the elections.
Veson-Moitoi added that she is appalled by the general treatment towards her by the party leadership, which she believes is aligned to Masisi.
The Francistown region is one region where the delegates for the upcoming Kang congress are said to be deeply divided over Masisi and Venson-Moitoi.
In his brief address, Masisi urged delegates for the Kang special congress to vote for him on account of sweeping reforms he has introduced since taking over. He added that he would bring many economic reforms if he is retained as the BDP president and when the party ‘inevitably’ wins the general elections.
“Not voting for me is equivalent to dismissing me from the job. If you to go to the general elections (without him) you will have a tough task of explaining why you voted me out because I have done fairly well (during his short stint as president). There should be convincing answers that will satisfy the party’s stakeholders and those who will be voting at the general elections,” Masisi told the delegates at Adansonia Hotel.
Masisi further said that if he is not voted by the party as the presidential candidate the move might backfire to the BDP. He noted that it makes little sense for the party to change its presidential candidate just five months before the general elections. “If you change the presidential voters will punish you severely,” he said.
He later said in his address, “This is the most significant election in the country since 1966. Please vote wisely because once it is done, it is done.”
Meanwhile, Masisi has promised that he will give Batswana a very competent president when he steps down from office should he be allowed to lead the country beyond the 2019 general elections.
“Give me nine more years, it is all I am asking for and I go home. But before I go home I will definitely leave you a very competent, agreeable and well trained Vice President (who will be appointed President) who will take this country to even greater heights,” Masisi said.