Peace eludes BDP in Molepolole South
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday May 4, 2018 14:02
Kabo Morwaeng led the team that won primaries while Shima Monageng led the losers in the primaries held late last year.
The reconciliation meeting was held at Motse Lodge where BDP members in the Molepolole South constituency were asked to rally behind those who had won the primary elections.
Mmegi has learnt that Guma advised the members to be united since divisions could result in BDP losing in the general elections once again. Molepolole South has been a stronghold of the BDP, but the party lost it for the first time in 2014.
However, Mmegi has in good authority that while some agreed to work with those who had won, others refused. They are said to have told the meeting that they were disappointed by the way the party has handled their appeals. “Before we could receive the letters dismissing our appeals, the party leadership decided to announce our fate at the National Council. Some members had earlier told others that the central committee would not hear the appeals and it exactly happened like that. They are those members that the party favoured. We do not see the need for reconciliation when announcement was done in that manner,” a source said.
According to the source, Guma promised the members that he would take their complaints to the party central committee so that they know their concerns.
The source said Guma told the members that they would have to hold another meeting to ensure that all the party members in the area agreed on certain things like cooperation. “Guma is determined to make sure that there is peace in the area. I understand he wants to individually meet those who had lost to convince them to support those who had won,” said the source.
Guma confirmed the meeting. “It was just an indoor meeting. I have to report to the central committee whatever we have discussed. I am sorry I cannot divulge the content of the meeting.”
On the other hand, Monageng said he did not attend the meeting because he was outside the country.
“I am not satisfied by the way my appeal was conducted. Even the letter I received which dismissed my appeal could not address what I had raised. Their letter was not raising the pertinent issues and I am still consulting on the matter before I contemplate the next step,” he said.
Monageng said he could not promise anything on the issue of cooperation until he had finished consulting. “Morwaeng as a candidate, Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) member and its secretary played these dual roles in the constituency, such that his intermingling functions evidently compromised him in that in distributing cards, he withheld some cards for more than 230 members who wanted to vote, or for that matter to participate in the elections. As a candidate he should have not been involved in cards distribution particularly in Molepolole South where he was a candidate,” Monageng’s appeal read.