Khama moves to stem tidal wave

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday April 22, 2010 00:00

 

The military strategist that he is Khama has launched a counter-offensive on Barata-Phathi to ensure the splinter group does not take any more BDP supporters with them.

The BDP head office says Khama will address BDP members throughout the country, beginning in the north, on recent developments in the party, especially registration of the vaunted new party.

This week Sidney Pilane revealed that the BDP faction was registering their party's name and would also present a constitution of the party to the Registrar of Societies. Pilane is actually expected to announce the name of the party today. 

Several MPs, among them Botsalo Ntuane (Gaborone West South) and Wynter Mmolotsi (Francistown South) are expected to lead an exodus from the ruling party.

In a press release, the Executive Secretary of the BDP says Khama will address party leaders from Tswapong, Shoshong-Mahalapye (SHOMA), BOMASE (Bobirwa Mmadinare Selibe Phikwe), the North East, Central, the North West and Francistown regions in Francistown May 1. 'The regions are expected to send 10 representatives.

Members of the central committee and sub-committees of the central committees are invited,' says Serema's statement.

'Preparations are underway for him (Khama) to address constituencies in the South.'

As Khama crisis-crosses the country in an attempt to keep the floodgates in place, the BDP secretariat and the party's Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) will retreat to Mahalapye to map out a strategy to weather the feared storm of defections.

'We have heard that the faction (Barata-Phathi) has been addressing people in places like Lobatse, Gantsi and Maun,' Serema told Mmegi in an interview yesterday. 'As a party, we can't just be quiet forever; our people need to know what we are saying as BDP.'