Makgato�s invitation divides Batswapong
Staff Writer | Friday November 3, 2017 11:46
Makgato, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefhare/Ramokgonami (formerly Tswapong South), as well as Minister of Health and Wellness has been invited to be the guest speaker at the annual cultural event billed for Lecheng on November 18, 2017.
Mmegi sources say some people are not happy with the choice as they feel that despite being an MP in Tswapong region, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) legislator is not the right candidate to give a keynote address at the event, as they feel that she does not share the aspirations of Batswapong. It is also said that others are of the view that there is too much political interference in the event and that the LLB has been infiltrated by political activism.
The issue of political infiltration arose after the organising committee had initially wanted to invite permanent secretary to the President Carter Morupisi to be the guest speaker. However, it is said that the committee somersaulted on the idea after others felt that might not sit well with Prince Maele who is the area MP under which Lecheng falls.
“A section of Batswapong are not happy that Makgatho has been invited as the guest speaker because they feel that for a very long she has not been in touch with Batswapong until when she joined politics. They think she has been shunning them. There is also concern that by inviting political heads, the committee is politicising the event, which is not what the community want. Now preparations for the event have stalled because the committee is divided,” said a source that spoke to Mmegi on anonymous condition.
Mmegi sources close to the events said Batswapong were also not impressed by remarks echoed by MP for Selebi-Phikwe East, Nonofo Molefhi when he officiated at the previous event held in Ramokgonami village.
However, chairperson of LLB Onkutlule Shine has dismissed the allegations and confirmed that preparations are on track for the cultural event.
“Preparations are underway. I can confirm that Makgato will be our guest speaker. She is one of our own. It is not true that there are divisions over the choice of the speaker. No one has expressed unhappiness over the decision to invite Makgato,” Shine said.
Shine said they had initially invited the Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi who had agreed but later changed as he said he would not be available.
Shine also confirmed that there were suggestions to invite Morupisi, but that did not succeed because many people were not comfortable with the idea.
He said the event, which is meant to celebrate and promote the culture of Batswapong, would be held under the theme ‘My culture, my identity, key to our prosperity and posterity’.