Reject Gaborone, vote Boko

| Friday April 23, 2010 00:00

They think like-wise. That is why their central committee committed blunder after blunder. To start with, it was a blunder for the BNF members to surrender a bigger political movement to individuals of Gaborone's calibre. This was a big mistake that comrades who thronged the Molepolole College of Education in 2007 made and they will live to regret.  It sounds weird to think that Gaborone is the most suitable or credible person within the BNF.  He can never be a credible replacement of the battered and politically soiled Moupo who has failed the BNF dismally.

In the first place, Gaborone is a political novice. Gaborone failed to drum up support for the BNF in South East North.  The BDP snatched five out of eight wards in the area under his nose.  He narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of BDP as he survived by a slim margin of 17 votes only. What a shame to a political figure that holds a high position in the BNF rank and file. This shows that even in his backyard Gaborone failed to sell the BNF policies so how can one expect him to sell it to the nation? It is obvious that come 2014 General Elections Gaborone will kiss parliament bye-bye and he was very lucky to occupy a seat in parliament as we speak. Deep down in his heart he should be worried about the BNF performance behind his backyard. Batlokwa did reject him and I was surprised to learn that the BNF legislators chose him as the leader of the opposition in parliament at the expense of capable MPs like Isaac Mabiletsa. Gaborone's impact in parliament is almost nil. He just enjoys the allowances and black Mercedes Benzes.  The gentleman, just like Moupo, is a liability to the party.

He has completely nothing to offer except to finish the BNF off because he will be working under the advice of the dysfunctional Moupo.

Obviously, there is a yawning gap between Gaborone and the late Dr Kenneth Shololo Koma (May his soul rest in Peace).  Dr Kenneth Koma has been justified by the fact that he had established a strong personality cult. Koma also had a long leadership history under which the BNF experienced a lot of growth. Gaborone posesses none of these traits and by then he was actively involved in BDP affairs.

For all the wasted years Gaborone deputised Moupo, he has failed to advise Moupo - what he did was just to rubber stamp all suicidal decisions made by Moupo. He completely failed to advise Moupo in all the blunders Moupo made and that cost the party dearly in the past general elections. The gentleman helped Moupo to divide and rule the BNF.

He helped Moupo to turn the BNF into a fiefdom to manipulate and terrorise at will. To these two gentlemen it is the end of the road. Enough is enough. Olebile Gaborone was clinging on a false hope of surviving in the house of cards in last year's general elections. He was very lucky to survive the axe. We in Tlokweng have completely lost confidence and hope in him and we are not happy with his performance in Parliament that is why we wanted him out.

During the hastily arranged 'Press Conference' at the Big Five Lodge recently, it was made clear by the trio; Gaborone, Moupo and Mohwasa that they are not prepared to lift the expulsions or suspension meted on all BNF members. This clearly shows that Gaborone and his preferred team are not for reconciliation in the party. They condone the current polarity in the BNF. This is very unfortunate. For that he should be given a cold shoulder.

It will be a blunder to elect Gaborone for the BNF presidency as he is not ready to reconcile with indispensable comrades like Nehemiah Modubule, Elmon Tafa, Kathleen Letshabo and Lebohang Letsie etc.  We need these people in the BNF.

The Moupo, Gaborone, Khan, Sengwaketsi, Mohwasa and Kgosipula Axis of tomfoolery is no longer relevant. The new BNF needs a radical leadership and not sell-outs. The BNF needs someone who is unapologetic about the party's anti-BDP political stance. The motto of that leadership should be a 'return to our true progressive policies'.

We are desperately in need of reconciliation in the party. Our energies, expelled or un-expelled, suspended or not suspended, should focus on assembling a new leadership led by comrade Duma Boko.

May I lastly caution BNF members to learn from their mistakes - Once beaten twice shy. We should vote wisely at this coming congress. An individual's capabilities should come first before factions.

Let us all reject Gaborone and his team and usher in better persons in the likes of Duma Boko.

Richard MfolweBNF MemberTLOKWENG