BMD in fundraising crusade

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 23, 2010 00:00

 

The BMD has to start from scratch to effectively compete with already established political organisations.'BMD is going to host a music festival at the Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) show grounds where the South African muso, Dan Tshanda and groups from his stable such as Machikos, Dalom Kids, Splash will be the main attraction,' said BMD acting Francistown regional secretary, Sam Masunga, yesterday. 

The festival will be held immediately after the party's inaugural rally billed for the Chedu Choga Freedom Square in Francistown on Saturday.

Locally based Kwaito Kwasa star, Slizer, is expected to participate. Masunga stated that the party wants to raise at least P10, 000.

'We are preparing for a countrywide tour, which will be organised by the party's interim executive committee members and other designated officials to sell the BMD out there,' Masunga declared, indicating that the exercise will not come cheap.

Masunga indicated that since the government of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is yet to consider funding of all the country's political parties, the BMD has been forced to come up with its own fundraising ventures.

Sale of the party's paraphernalia such as caps, T-shirts, scarf's and others will continue to be part of the party's activities in raising funds. Sponsored walks and beauty pageants will also be targeted to raise funds.

Masunga stressed that at the party's weekend major gathering outside Gaborone, the party will maximise the opportunity to raise more funds. Before proceeding to the weekend rally, some members of the BMD interim leadership will officially open the Francistown East constituency leadership forum, which, Masunga says, will be funded by the constituents.

The office is situated near the Galo mallFrancistown East is the only area in Francistown, which has been pro the  BDP's A-Team faction and it now requires a lot of groundwork to convince the constituents to embrace the BMD.

'The constituency office will mean a lot to us as this is where we are going to meet and work from in ensuring that we win the hearts and minds of the people,' said Masunga.