Ruth Kedikilwe Speaks Out

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Monday August 9, 2010 00:00

She has grown up in the BDP such that it appeared imponderable that one day she will be seen hobnobbing with the opposition, but 'Ruta' has since switched allegiance to the newly formed Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). She says nothing is going to take her away from the party.

In an exclusive interview in Francistown where she had attended a family affair, she says she joined BMD because she wants to make a difference and her parents, especially her father, respects her decision. 'The day I made the decision, I tried calling him, but his phone was on voicemail because he was out of the country, but when he returned my call I told him about my decision, and he said it was okay if that was what makes me happy. They (the parents) do not regard me as a rebel. They respect my decision, much as I have got no problem with them remaining as members of the BDP. Some of us belong to the young generation and we want to see things done differently from what our parents are doing. It is now up to us to make our mark and I am sure we are going to do that,' she says. She says that BMD is not a failing project, otherwise she would not have joined it.

Ruth is the secretary of BMD's interim youth league committee and says she likes her position. She is reluctant to talk about the BDP. All she wants is to talk about her party, the BMD.

'At BMD, we are trying to shift the present perspective and focus on the lives of Batswana. We want Batswana to use this party as their voice. BMD is going to be the platform from which Batswana can speak out. You have to realise that the need of a monana (youth) in Sefhophe is different from a youth in Gaborone. You cannot come up with a general solution for them which is what is happening at the moment,' she says.

Asked whether she would like to see her parents' party removed from power, Ruth turns philosophical saying all parties have the potential to rule the country, depending on their appeal to the electorate.

But regarding the present situation, she believes things have deteriorated such that they can only get better with change. 'It will be unfortunate if things get worse as it appears they are bound to,' she says.