Barata-Phathi becomes BMD

GREG KELEBONYE
Staff Writer | Monday April 26, 2010 00:00

 

The party shall be known as the Botswana Movement For Democracy (BMD), an inside source told The Monitor late yesterday. However, Barata-Phathi spokesman Sidney Pilane declined to confirm nor deny that they have settled on BMD as the name of the party. 'What I can tell you is that we have indeed agreed on a name, but we first have to submit that name to the Registrar of Societies. Once the Registrar has approved it, we shall be able to tell you the name,' he said. He added that the name was decided after a lengthy discussion by the party leaders and consultation with the public through phone and radio interviews.

He said the name is in consonance with the break-away movement's vision to revive and reinforce democracy in Botswana, the rule of law, civil liberties and national development. He said contrary to a smear campaign by the ruling BDP, the new party means business, and will not just fold up in the face of challenges. Barata-Phathi have settled on a name for the party at a time when President Ian Khama issued a statement condemning the new party. 'We are going to release a statement responding to Khama, but the overwhelming response of Batswana to the prospect of a new break-away party shows that the party is founded on crucial matters of principle on which the very future of the country depends,' he said. He stated that his party will not stoop to the level of the BDP. 'We are above exchanging personal attacks and abuse with anybody. We are not concerned with personalities but with fundamental issues that affect our people,' he said.

Pilane said that the statements and descriptions used by the BDP show the extent to which the party leaders are panicking. 'Ba ga rona are in great panic because they realise the time for change has come, that the formation of the break-away party is an inevitable end for them. They (BDP) are unable to debate the issues. They are constantly searching for negative epithets with which to attack us and our party. They can't think beyond abuse and insults.'

That, Pilane said, can only cause the BDP to lose whatever little trust some pockets of voters had in the party [BDP]. 'Re rata fa ba dira jalo ka ba itlhobosa sechaba. However, we will not stoop to their level.'