Khama targets Barata-Phathi heartland

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday April 30, 2010 00:00

It is apparent the BDP top brass is fed up with the political brouhaha, which continues to dominate politics in the three Francistown constituencies. Francistown South and West constituencies are under Barata-Phathi which has transformed into a party, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) while East is controlled by the A-Team faction of the BDP.

In the last general elections, the A-Team escaped by a whisker in the East with Foreign Affairs Minister, Phandu Skelemani winning by 568 votes.

There is massive evidence that the A-Team is generally in the minority in an area that they expected to be on top. The BDP ranks in the Francistown region has known no peace for a long time. The latest reports show that the BDP will lose control of the Francistown City Council (FCC) and the Francistown region when Barata-Phathi councillors and MPs cross to BMD.  With odds stacked against the BDP, Khama wants to play it safe by trying to win the hearts and minds of party diehards in a last minute bid to swing support from the Barata-Phathi. Officially, the BDP secretariat has indicated that Khama and leaders are coming to Francistown to brief members on the state of the party following the recent split and the firing and suspension of some activists. This week the BDP secretariat released a line up of speakers at the rally that has already been branded a mini congress because of its envisaged attendance. The rally is billed for Francistown South constituency where the area MP, Wynter Mmolotsi is associated with the newly formed Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).

It goes without saying that the choice of the rally is to try and reverse the gains of Mmolotsi and Barata-Phathi. Some of the politicians lined up to address the rally include cabinet ministers Peter Siele, Kitso Mokaila, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Charles Tibone and party activists Botho Ntirang, Kebatlamang Morake and Angelinah Sengalo.  Ntirang the Francistown region BDP chairman has been very busy as a lone voice fighting Barata-Phathi. He is one man whom the President listens to. He could be the initiator of the meeting.

Last year towards the general elections, Ntirang was instrumental in calling Khama to Francistown to come and scold the likes of Mmolotsi. It was even feared that Mmolotsi would be recalled as a parliamentary candidate but he escaped with a reprimand.

Ntirang is likely to dwell on the damage factionalism continues to wreck in Francistown. Sengalo is another A-Team diehard whose contribution is likely to stress the dangers of factionalism. She is very tactful but unfortunately, she does not tolerate opponents easily. She gets very emotional when she discusses BDP factionalism. Although he has hardly been neutral as a veteran politician, former cabinet minister, Kebatlamang Morake is expected to dwell on the party's history and show the dangers of fanning factionalism. Unfortunately, in Francistown the BDP leadership will be dealing with hard-core politicians not likely to entertain any history. Information reaching Mmegi show that some members of the Barata-Phathi interim leadership were spotted in town trying to cheer up their people to hold onto their political beliefs.

Meanwhile there is concern about the inclusion of former Barata-Phathi strategists in the line up of speakers at tomorrow's rally. Venson-Moitoi and Matlhabaphiri in particular are viewed by many as possible sell-outs because of their past associations. However, it is clear Matlhabaphiri has not been working closely with the Barata-Phathi for over a year.

He has been playing his cards very close to the chest and leaving a lot of people guessing his intentions. As a former member of the Barata-Phathi leadership, he was expected to soldier on, but just like Ponatshego Kedikilwe, he has not been active. Barata-Phathi members are not surprised about his inclusion indicating that his role just like that of Venson-Moitoi would be to confuse people that the rally is not an A-Team factional gathering, but an inclusive party event. There has been talk that Matlhabaphiri has lost touch with Barata-Phathi and those in the know suggest that he would not dare denounce the group. Contacted for comment, Matlhabaphiri indicated that he has been deployed to the Francistown rally by the secretariat to do party work and he does not see anything wrong. He dismissed talk that he has been deployed to denounce Barata-Phathi as a figment of some people's imaginations.

Venson-Moitoi has been fence-sitting in so far as factions are concerned though she is a staunch supporter of Khama. Hence Barata-Phathi faction are not shocked by her appearance at an A-Team factional event. She is not expected to attack Barata-Phathi per se but could call for calm and peace without being harsh on her factional friends. Efforts to reach her were futile at press time, as she did not answer calls. 

BDP executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema told Mmegi yesterday that from the official point of view, no consideration is made in the party whether a member is A-Team or Barata-Phathi factionalist. He said when the party allocates duties, it does not consider factionalism and assignments are given to members in good standing. He explained that currently, no MP or cabinet minister has resigned from the BDP to join a new party.