'BDP councillors won't defect'

EDWARD BULE
Correspondent | Tuesday July 13, 2010 00:00

This was contrary to media reports that it was a matter of time before nine BDP councillors in the Tati East constituency defected to the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). Out of the nine wards in the constituency, eight are controlled by the BDP while only one is under the opposition Botswana Peoples' Party (BPP). There are two specially elected councillors, bringing the total  to 11.

The tone of  the round of assurances and pledges of loyalty to the BDP and its leadership under the headline Domi Ke Yame(the BDP is mine), was set by the Tsamaya branch chairman, Sabelo Matikiti who declared that Tsamaya remained united behind the BDP. He took a swipe at the BMD which he said is not a factor in the constituency because the people do not understand what it stands for. Assuring the BDP leadership  of his loyalty the councilor for Tshesebe ward, Moore Maloiso said that he and his ward did not join the Member of Parliament (MP) Samson Guma Moyo who has recently joined BMD after his expulsion from the BDP.

Isaac Wilson of Thamashanga  was next in line. He assured the President that his ward was firmly behind him; so did Winnie Showa who accused The Voice  of using her name to sell their papers. Kentse Joice Mahube of Ramakgwebana declared: 'We are your people forever. Please remember us.' Dlodlo of Tatisiding was more dramatic when she said: 'I am here to assure the President that no one from Tatisiding or even the constituency is leaving the party. Besides, if anybody leaves the BDP for the BMD, we will torment that person. We will not allow anyone to defect with a BDP seat.'

Flora Mpetsane of Matsiloje said that the BDP worked hard to win the ward and was not about to give it to BMD on a silver platter. Bakani Badziyili of Siviya assured the leadership of his continued loyalty to the party. Reginald Mudongo of Tsamaya said that he campaigned as BDP, and was elected under BDP ticket by BDP members.

Because of his respect for the voter, he is not leaving the BDP. The two specially elected councilors also dismissed reports that they were defecting to the BMD.

BDP public relations manager, Segaetsho Garekwe concluded the Domi Ke Yame session of the programme by welcoming the trio of Todd Maligan, Obed Takobana and Sevi Toitoi back into the party. The three are former BDP councillors for Tsamaya, Ramakgwebana and Siviya who left the party before the 2009 general elections to stand as independent candidates but lost.

Garekwe also announced that Kopano Maruping had defected. Maruping is a former BPP councillor of Tatisiding who defected to the BDP in the 1980s. He has recently re-joined the BPP where he holds the position of national chairman. When contacted for comment, the former councillor who was not in Tsamaya , promised to visit Mmegi offices in Francistown for a face-to-face interview but never did. But BPP secretary general, Shathiso Tambula said the allegations about Maruping were baseless. He added that the BPP national chairman attended a BPP central committee meeting on Saturday.

Addressing the rally on behalf of his colleagues, Maligan said to thunderous applause, ' I am happy to be back into the BDP. The enemy is gone.'  He added that he and Moyo never agreed on anything and hence his resignation from the party. In an interview after the rally, Takobana said he resigned from the BDP because Moyo always sidelined him in favour of his loyalists. His appeals, he continues, were not considered because the constituency committee consisted of Moyo supporters. Takobana further adds that although he stood as an independent candidate, he remained a BDP at heart. He supports this by citing the fact that he never joined any party.

Takobana contends that BMD and Moyo are not a threat to the BDP in the constituency. Although it is always unfortunate to lose a member, Takobana says that very soon, the party will find someone from its midst to replace Moyo.

The chairman of the BDP Youth League, Bontsi Monare, the rally achieved its purpose of re-energising the BDP members in the constituency. He left Tsamaya assured that the BDP is alive in Tati East.