Tati East exodus to BMD begins

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 28, 2010 00:00

 

The defectors are joining BDP's splinter party, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). The area MP, who was previously BDP, was recently expelled from the ruling party for reportedly attending a meeting that was not blessed by the party leadership.

In what is believed to be the genesis of a mass exodus to the BMD, Tsamaya ward civic leader, Reginald Mudongo resigned from the BDP on Monday to join the BMD.  To those in the know, the worst is yet to befall the BDP in Tati East as the majority of councillors are tipped to join the BMD shortly. They have in fact made a vow 'to show President Ian Khama what we are made of.' The same Mudongo was on July 10 paraded at a poorly attended rally addressed by President Ian Khama in Tsamaya disparaging reports that he was on the verge of leaving the BDP. Mmegi quotes his then statement in Tsamaya made before Khama: 'I campaigned as BDP and was elected on a BDP ticket by BDP members. Because of the respect of the voter I am not leaving the BDP.'

Today, Mudongo regrets having made this statement, claiming the move was purely stage-managed.He was not alone in this, as all the councillors made parrot statements saying they were loyal and committed to the BDP.

Yesterday, Mudongo told Mmegi in an interview, 'I have already faxed my letter to BDP headquarters notifying them about my resignation. My new political home is definitely the BMD.' He says that he decided to leave the BDP because he has noticed lately that the party does not have the interests of individuals at heart.

'There are many things that are not going well in the BDP. We have been neglected for a long time here. I can tell you it was not easy doing anything here because the BDP structures here have collapsed,' he said. He also claimed to have endured a lot of pain under the ruling party.

He indicated that ever since the BDP welcomed expelled politicians who stood as independent candidates in the last elections, they have been posing as shadow councillors.

Mudongo says the final straw was when he witnessed Minister Phandu Skelemani telling the area MP Moyo off, that he is a Zimbabwean and must return to his home country.

'BDP and its leadership seems to forget that it is the same Zimbabwean (Moyo) as they purport and his supporters who won the party the Tati East constituency in the last elections.'

He added that Botswana could be going to the dogs, as tribalism seems to be a weapon that some people use to condemn others.

By yesterday, BDP public relations manager, Segaetshe Garekwe professed ignorance of the issue when contacted for comment. ' I am yet to receive any information about Mudongo's resignation maybe we will receive it at a later stage,' was all he said.

Mmegi has been informed that the councillor's defection is just a tip of the iceberg.