Motswaledi memorial divides UDC
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday August 2, 2017 18:00
A BMD faction led by Gaolathe is behind the Sunday event. Two factions one led by Gaolathe and the other by Sidney Pilane are claiming ownership of the BMD.
Motswaledi died three years ago in a road mishap. Botswana National Front (BNF) vice president, Prince Dibeela and Gantsi North MP Noah Salakae are amongst key figures who have been lined up to speak at the commemoration billed for Mogoditshane on Sunday. Salakae also belongs to the Botswana National Front (BNF).
The omission of influential Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leaders, that include president Duma Boko and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president Dumelang Saleshando, have raised eyebrows.
There is a strong perception that Dibeela and Salakae have sympathy towards a faction led by Gaolathe and have a bit of hostility towards the BCP, which is why they got the nod. There is even a suggestion that the duo’s presence on the speakers list solidifies the position that they are backing Gaolathe’s faction.
There is also talk that Gaolathe’s faction hates the BCP with a passion.
“We avoided including key speakers like Duma Boko because he is currently handling the BMD factional battles. We would have been conflicting him had we included him among the speakers,” said one of the event organisers Sedirwa Kgoroba who is also a legislator for Mogoditshane.
He added, “As for the BCP members we did not invite any of their members to speak because they never (at the time when Motswaledi died) believed that Motswaledi was assassinated as we believed. We wanted to protect them against political hypocrisy”.
Kgoroba said that most of the speakers who have been lined up to speak at the event were invited because they enjoyed a close relationship with the late Motswaledi. “We were not after being political correct when we decided on who we should invite to speak at the commemoration,” he said.
Dibeela indicated that he is yet to get an invite to the ceremony.
“I have attended most of the events celebrating Motswaledi’s life. Had I been invited at a convenient time, I would be attending the event on a personal capacity. On Sundays I focus on my church duties. It is highly likely that I may not attend if at all I receive the invite,” he said.
He added: “I will not shun any of the BMD members because of the differences they have within their party. All these BMD members are people we grew up with”.
Salakae confirmed that he has been invited. He said he will be attending the event on a personal capacity because the invite was addressed to him not the party.
He also dismissed insinuations that he is honouring the invite because of his perceived sympathy towards Gaolathe’s faction.
“I will honour every invite of an activity by the opposition because all opposition parties share the same goals. Honouring any invite by the local opposition is one way of advancing efforts of the UDC. Even if the Pilane faction invites, me I will honour the invite,” he said.
Other speakers who have been lined up to speak at the event are Botswana Federation of Public Private Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) secretary general, Tobokani Rari as well as labour secretary, Johnson Motshwarakgole. Some months ago the trade union movement made it no secret that it is backing Gaolathe’s faction.
Rari confirmed that he has been invited, but said that the invite was on a personal capacity. He added that he is yet confirm his availability. Rari also said that to the best of his knowledge, the commemoration is not a party activity. Kgoroba had early on said that the event was a party activity. On the other hand Motshwarakgole said that he is not aware of the commemoration.