I am only helping Masire - Raletobana

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday April 7, 2010 00:00

 

Raletobana, who is the MP for Kweneng South East, has met party president Ian Khama unbeknownst to his fellow Barata-Phathi. Speaking in an interview with Mmegi yesterday, Raletobana said it was crucial that the factions met to explore reconciliation before any move to form a new party could be mooted.

He said meeting with Khama should not be interpreted as defection from Barata-Phathi because he stands by the principles and demands espoused by the faction.

In meeting with Khama, he was complementing former president Ketumile Masire's mediation efforts which Barata-Phathi had agreed to, he said. But why did he take such a step without the knowledge or sanction of his 'comrades'?

'I felt that I could meet Khama as an individual and implore him to meet Barata-Phathi,' Raletobana responded. 'The fact that Barata-Phathi are threatening to leave the BDP to form a new party is a big issue and should not be ignored. Hence I felt there should be dialogue.'

 He also approached Khama by himself because he had realised that some people in his faction 'have pride they cannot swallow', he said. 'We must agree to differ.'

Raletobana said he had found it easy for him to approach Khama because 'I was once his private secretary. We are friends. It's just that sometimes we differ on certain things, but I will not sell my principles for a cabinet post. Ga ke a rekwa (I have not been bought).'

He said he would not negotiate on behalf of Barata-phathi because he was not mandated to do so. 'I am just trying to urge the President to come and give us an audience,' he said.

Asked if he would apologise to the BDP leadership, Raletobana said: 'I have not done any wrong. No one has, actually. It was not a BDP meeting. It's like when someone goes to attend a choir festival and then afterwards they are told to apologise.'

On the new party being mooted, the Kweneng South legislator said if negotiations failed, he would consult his constituency of more than 30 000 people and take it from there.