Masisi takes pot shots at Moswaane
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday October 24, 2017 18:00
Masisi, who is also the country’s Vice-President (VP), addressed party members from the Francistown West branch over the weekend, where he also welcomed some former opposition party members into the BDP.
BDP legislators, amongst them Isaac Davids accompanied the VP during his trip, while Gregory Kealotswe, Tebogo Toteng and Raoboy Mpuang who reportedly intend to challenge Moswaane in the party’s primaries were also present at the meeting.
Masisi is said to be backing Kealotswe who is viewed as a reputable businessman.
At the weekend meeting, Masisi is reported to have expressed concern over some BDP legislators who do not respect the party caucus. He said such legislators should not be voted into office, as they lack discipline and bring the name of the party into disrepute.
Although he did not mention names, several insiders present at the meeting told Mmegi that the party chair’s words were reportedly aimed at Moswaane. The latter has in the past openly condemned decisions taken during party caucuses.
He has openly opposed the planned use of electric voting machines during the 2019 general elections as well as the BDP government’s plans to buy Gripen Jets. He was also vocal against the government’s decision to close mines under the BCL Group.
Masisi reportedly urged BDP members in Francistown West, and members in general, to vote for Members of Parliament (MPs) he can effectively work with when he assumes the country’s Presidency next year.
Insiders said Masisi’s remarks infuriated Moswaane. “In his (Moswaane) written speech, he had included a lot of things which portrayed a very good relationship between him and the VP in Parliament.
“He however omitted most of the things he had written following Masisi’s remarks. What was said did not sit well with him,” said a source, adding that Moswaane, who is known for his outbursts, instead struck a diplomatic tone in his speech at the weekend meeting.
Yesterday the Francistown West MP declined to comment when contacted. It is also alleged that during the meeting, Masisi expressed worry about some BDP legislators who continued to leak details of internal party meetings. These remarks were also viewed as an indirect jab at Moswaane.
Moswaane has in the past given radio interviews where he has aired his displeasure towards decisions taken during internal party meetings. During the interviews and in other public forums he has appeared to suggest that BDP internal meetings stifle debates.
Yesterday BDP Francistown region chairperson Baemedi Medupi downplayed the weekend developments.
“The VP was merely preaching unity. Those who say that the VP was targeting Moswaane want to create an unnecessary rift between the two men.”
He added: “There was nothing which strongly suggested that he was attacking Moswaane. The meeting was a routine team building programme by the party secretary general and the VP”. Kealotswe told Mmegi that it was untrue that he had Masisi’s support against Moswaane.
“I followed Masisi during his campaign for the party chairmanship, but I personally do not know him.”