BMD holds inaugural rally in F/town

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday June 22, 2010 00:00

 

The Saturday rally billed for the popular Chedu Choda Freedom Square in Francistown South constituency is expected to leave a lasting impact in the minds of the city dwellers. Recently, the BDP held a massive rally addressed by President Ian Khama and a majority of cabinet members at the same venue. Speakers at the rally took turns to dismiss BMD as a non-starter with Khama calling the interim party leadership opportunists who had nothing to offer.

 Events preceding the weekend rally include a 24-team football tournament, bankrolled by the Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi, a member of the BMD executive committee. The MP told Mmegi yesterday that their preparations are at an advanced stage to host the massive rally. The Francistown region in particular has been hailed as a BMD stronghold following the recent collapse of the ruling party structures as members resigned en masse to join BMD. The Saturday rally has the potential of revealing BDP members who have jumped ship. The BDP is currently unsure as to who else has left for the BMD.

Excited by the party preparations, Mmolotsi told Mmegi: 'You will remember that in March, the BMD's inception was plotted in Mogoditshane and people in the north did not hear much about this new party. Equally, our recent convention was in Gaborone and now it is time to take the party to the north'. He is hopeful that the Saturday rally will carry the emotions that will reflect what the BMD stands for.

'The weekend meeting will afford the northerners an opportunity to know that there is a party called BMD and that it also exists in the north and people should know its interim leadership,' stressed Mmolotsi.

BMD will take advantage of the weekend rally to parade its interim leadership and possibly its strength. Mmolotsi said the rally is likely to attract about 10,000 people.

'It will be crucial for the rally to be told the actual reasons surrounding the formation of the BMD. We did not just bolt out of the party for fun,' stressed Mmolotsi. All BDP members who are still undecided whether to join the BMD are invited to the rally. 'We expect them to have made up their minds by the end of the rally.'

As an attraction, BMD has invited South African music group, Splash and the local Kwaito Kwasa Queen, Slizer of the Ke Gwa Kwa Bobirwa fame to the rally. The BMD has invited leaders of the country's trade unions to deliver solidarity messages. Mmolotsi said the BMD will provide a few surprises in the form of retired senior civil servants who have joined the party.