Do or die for BDP in Tonota North

EDWARD BULE
Correspondent | Friday August 6, 2010 00:00

The assistant minister said that as a result, the BDP is doing all it can to win the by-election occasioned by the death of former cabinet minister, Baledzi Gaolathe.

He asserted that having lost its public prominence and media dominance to the newly registered Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), the BDP will do everything to win the constituency. He added that the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) should not be taken lightly. The BCP enjoys the backing of BMD and Botswana National Front (BNF) in the by-election.

However, BDP spokesman, Segaetsho Garekwe has said they are not threatened by opposition cooperation. He cited the BDP's win in the Francistown East by-election a few year's ago to prove that the party is unbeatable in Tonota North. He said people understand and identify with the policies of the BDP and the BMD will only add to the numbers of opposition parties involved in cooperation talks and nothing else.

The BDP goes into the elections with history on its side because the constituency has always been its stronghold. The BDP executive secretary, Dr Coma Serema said the party will prevail over its competitors because opposition cooperation is not a new thing. He said the BDP won the seat in the general elections with a margin of over 2,000 and this is secure enough, though it is not in the nature of the party to be complacent even if they are certain of victory.

He asserted that the BDP has a solid strategy for winning the by-election. He said the appointment of Rammidi to manage the campaign shows that the BDP is serious about winning the seat. He stated that having won a difficult constituency himself, Rammidi is the right person under the circumstances to spearhead the campaign. He said having been a councillor and being in the Ministry of Local Government helps the Assistant Minister to understand the issues affecting the people at grass-root level. Serema is confident that after the by-election, the opposition will know that the BDP is still united despite the split that resulted in the formation of the BMD.

He said campaign teams led by MPs are already in place in Tonota North. The BDP candidate, Fidelis Molao said the margin between the BDP and the BCP in the 2009 general elections in Tonota North shows that his party remains strong in the constituency. He said the BDP will use its incumbency to its advantage.

He asserted that since the BDP will be in power until 2014, it would not be wise for Tonota North people to waste their vote on an opposition candidate. He hopes those he beat in the BDP primary will support him after they met with the party central committee. He said he has met them to try and develop a working relationship. He is happy that the five who contested the primary will be among the speakers at his launching rally. Molao will be launched tomorrow by BDP chairman Daniel Kwelagobe at Mathangwane. Before the rally, there will be a motorcade, which will go through all the wards.