MELS accuses media of blackout in Tonota North

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday August 19, 2010 00:00

 Joina however expressed optimism of his party's victory in the Tonota North by-election despite this media blackout.

'I think people are beginning to understand us.  The major problem with MELS is not with the people but with the media.' Joina said they recently convened a congress in Palapye but it never made front page news.  He said even a demonstration in Palapye was not covered.

He said although his party is also campaigning in Tonota North the media is only reporting on the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP).  'The media is not reporting about us because they have realised that we are articulating issues that concern the masses.'

Joina continued; 'Nobody will stop MELS because it is a movement of history and has been necessitated by certain conditions.  And as long as those conditions prevail the movement will keep growing,' he said.

'We are in the race.  People are realising that MELS is the party to be given state power.  They will welcome our efforts.  We are only hopeful that this will be translated into votes,' said Joina.

He does not see any reason why the movement should fail in Tonota North.  'All our committee members are there and our structures are in place.  I don't see any reason why we can't produce good results. We don't have resources but we are not complaining,' he said.

Joina said his party is taking the Tonota by-election as a dress rehearsal for the 2014 general elections.  The by-election, he said, will give them a clue of how they will perform in the forthcoming general elections.

'The comrades are camping and I will be leaving to address rallies at the end of the week.  We are confident that people will realise the need to bring MELS into power,' he said. Joina said they are in touch with the people on the ground in Tonota North.  'We talk to the people.  We believe we are in a tough struggle but ultimately we will make it.  The people will ultimately realise that we are there,' he said.

The MELS leader asserted that the masses in the rural areas understand the movement's Marxist ideology. He said this is because MELS is fighting for the people who are oppressed and exploited.  He added that people have realised that MELS is fighting for their cause.

Joina argues that MELS is the most feared party in the country.  This according to him, is one of the reasons why the media is not reporting about the party. While everyone seems to be singing about opposition cooperation, Joina said there has to be an agreement first.  He said his party does not act on emotions.  Joina said the opposition parties which have teamed up with the BCP in Tonota North are acting on emotions.

As far as he is concerned, the leaders of those parties have not been mandated by the membership to assist BCP in Tonota North.

He asserted that the Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) leaders made their own decision in teaming up with BCP in the by-election.  He describes the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) as a party with no structures.

Joina accused the leaders of betraying their members.  'They were moved by emotions to team up with the BCP for their selfish reasons.  How is BCP going to help them,' he asked rhetorically. MELS could have agreed to team with BCP if there was an agreement of some sort.

'We are not opposed to cooperation but there has to be an agreement.'  He said MELS leadership cannot enter into any deal that has not been sanctioned by the membership. 'BPP and BNF members are shocked to learn that their parties are helping the BCP when there is no such agreement,' he claims.