Mixed reactions as BDP Letswapo Region elects Tshotego chairman

Lindiwe Mozola | Wednesday May 24, 2017 15:12

 

Tshotego garnered 41 votes against Tshokodiso Raboloko’s 31 during the region’s BDP committee elections that were held here over the weekend.

Speaking in an interview, Palapye regional chairman Sam Maeka said that everything went well except for the minor nuisance by her deputy, Itsoseng Motsumi who vowed that Palapye region will not work with Tshotego.

“She said those words in the presence of dignitaries such as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Slumber Tsogwane, Minister of Defence Justice and Security, Shaw Kgathi and assistant Minister of Basic Education and Palapye MP Moiseraele Goya that she will not work with Tshotego, as he is not stable due to his floor-crossing tendencies,” he said.

Maeka however said that as Palapye constituency, they have seen Tshotego’s potential hence they elected him.

He said that Tshotego has been granted a waiver following his movement from BDP to Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and back to BDP again.

He said, “Tshotego is like any other person. We get lost along the way but at the end we come back home. He was welcomed back home from the BCP in October last year during the Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s victory celebration and he was given a waiver. In addition, the constitution states that unless one have been granted a waiver he/she cannot contest for a position in the party for a period of two years therefore Tshotego was within his rights to contest”.

Motsumi however, declined to be interviewed over her reservations on Tshotego. In his response Tshotego said they will call a press conference to address such issues and acknowledged that elections are never without differences.

He said that his mandate is to preach unity and emphasised that the BDP cannot afford divisions at the time when opposition is united.

“For the party to have elected me is a sign that they saw my potential. I will do my best so that the BDP regains its presence in Letswapo region,” he said.

Other executive committee members who were elected unopposed included nominated councillor for Lecheng-Malaka, Malebogo Phuthego as deputy chairperson, Bofelo Segopotso of Sefhare/Ramokgonami as secretary general and Olebile Lefakae of Lerala/Maunatlala as treasurer.