Chilling campaign claims unsettle BDP councillor

Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday February 27, 2018 09:00

 

In a letter leaked to Mmegi addressed to the Francistown West Branch Committee chairperson and Francistown regional chairperson, councillor Zibanani Benifield of Botsalano ward said her nemesis in the 2014 general election, Barulaganye Mooketsi formerly of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), has already started house-to house campaigns in the ward before the party even sanctioned them.

In the last general elections the duo was separated by only 143 votes with Benifield leading with 653 votes while Mooketsi got 510 votes.

Mooketsi has since dumped the BCP for the BDP and was officially welcomed into its fold by chairperson and vice president, Mokgweetsi Masisi at a poorly attended ceremony towards the end of last year.

Now Benifield is ruing the day Mooketsi joined the BDP. 

Benifield said that, “… people have started preparing themselves for Bulela Ditswe in my area and they don’t even have the courtesy to inform me”.

She said: “House-to-house campaigns are ongoing.  Gathering of people for example the business course, which was held at Aerodrome Primary School, was organised by Raoboy Mpuang and Mooketsi.  Nthinthi Bakaile will also host a soccer tournament in the ward on April 30, 2018.  He stated that on his Facebook and WhatsApp groups.  No one has informed me about these activities even though I am the area councillor.”

Mpuang has already expressed interest to battle it out with the current Francistown West MP Ignatius Moswaane, insurance executive Tebogo Toteng, councillor for Kanana ward Cornelius Gopolang and businessman Gregory Kealotswe for the MP candidature.

Mpuang is reportedly courting Mooketsi to be one of his councillors in his quest to win the upcoming BDP primary elections.

Mooketsi is touted to win the primary elections in the ward because of his strong youth support that are the majority in the ward – a factor that may be sending chills down Benifield’s spine.

Bakaile is another aspiring BDP council candidate.

Benifield added: “All these things tells me that fellow democrats have started their campaigns.  I have informed the BDP deputy secretary general honourable Shaw Kgathi about these political shenanigans.  According to my knowledge as a democrat, the party has not sanctioned anyone to start campaigning.  I hope this will be taken into consideration”.

Asked if he has already started campaigning before the party sanctioned campaigns, Mooketsi refuted the claims as mere allegations peddled by a disgruntled colleague who fears competition.

He said: “I know the BDP procedures governing primary elections very well even though I am new in the party.  I have not yet started house-to-house campaigns as alleged by Benifield.  I was one of the organisers of the business course that was held at Aerodrome Primary School.  The course was apolitical and open to anyone irrespective of party affiliation.  Its aim was to impart business knowledge to the youth and nothing else”.

Benifield acknowledged to Mmegi being the author of the letter on Monday at the aborted full council meeting.

She said she was not afraid of her intra-party opponents adding that she would easily vanquish them in the upcoming BDP primary elections.