Over my dead body � Enga
Boniface Keakabetse | Friday June 30, 2017 17:39
Duncan Enga and Vepaune Moreti were this week expelled by the BDP from for defying the party caucus during the elections of the North West District Council (NWDC) leadership on May 8 contrary to article 32.3 of the party constitution.
Following their expulsion rumours have surfaced that the BDP is cooking a motion of no confidence, as they say they cannot be led by ‘mekoko’.
However addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Enga vowed that no one will replace them saying they have the support of BDP councillors. “If Reaboka Mbulawa hopes he will become the chairman via a motion of no confidence on us he should be warned that he could only achieve that if I am dead.” Enga said BDP would be humiliated if they try a motion of no confidence adding: “they can try to intimidate people but they should remember it is a secret vote”.
The press conference attracted massive interests from both the opposition and BDP members.
On May 7, prior to the NWDC elections the next day, Enga and Moreti lost the BDP caucus elections to Reaboka Mbulawa and Nico Folae respectively.
Mbulawa got 6 votes to Enga’s two while Nico Folae was voted 9 to Moreti’s eight.
Enga and Moreti defied the BDP caucus trouncing their opponents in the NWDC chairpersonship and the Maun Administrative Authority deputy chairperson positions respectively. Enga was voted by 28 to Mbulawa’s eight while Moreti defeated Folae by 20 to eight votes.
At the conference the two vehemently denied rumours that they have been advised by Nonofo Molefhi’s camp to await the outcome of the BDP Tonota congress before taking a decision to join opposition. They are all aligned to Molefhi’s camp.
The pair labelled their expulsion “harsh and unfair”. Enga stated that while the judgement was premised on article 32.3, it ignored other contributing factors.
Enga accused his opponent (Mbulawa) of buying votes in the run up to the caucus. “Mbulawa engaged in unfair campaigns before the caucus. I made complaints to the BDP regional structures to no avail.”
Enga said Mbulawa also campaigned amongst the opposition party members promising them financial assistance during the 2019 elections. He claimed that before the caucus Mbulawa had arranged a meeting at Old Bridge Backpackers where he pleaded with him to join his team to become his deputy. Enga stated: “I asked him what qualities he has to become a chairman and told him I am gunning for the chairmanship. He immediately lost his cool and the meeting ended”.
He further accused Mbulawa and Maun East Member of Parliament Konstantinos Markus of plotting to have them expelled. Enga said it was no secret that he had planned to oppose Markus in 2019 saying the legislator had sleepless nights of losing primaries.
Moreti for his part explained that they have been expelled from a party they loved and worked tirelessly for. He said they have been BDP members for more than 20 years saying it is painful they were chased from the party by people who do not have the interests of BDP at heart but themselves.
The duo said they would take time to consult with the electorates on their next course of action.