BMD paints Francistown orange

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 30, 2010 00:00

 

Khama's 'mother of all rallies', designed to quell abounding rumours that the BDP was fast losing ground to its newly established nemesis - the BMD, pulled out all the stops staging what they call 'star rallies' to stave off the challenge.

By any standard, the BDP rally last month was a huge success and to the BDP diehards, it could have helped to put off talk that BMD was destined to wreak havoc in Francistown. It was good publicity at the right time for the BDP. However, the BDP operatives have every reason to be green with envy after last Saturday.

However, the BMD rally far surpassed the one called by Khama if the weekend numbers were anything to go by.Some estimate attendance to have exceeded the targeted 10,000 people.

These huge numbers must be a serious cause for concern to the BDP in Francistown, as the new party seems to be indeed wreaking havoc.

BDP has not only lost what was traditionally known as members of the Barata-Phathi faction to the BMD, the weekend rally has revealed.  It has also lost some of the A-Team diehards like one Motshabi Modisapodi.Modisapodi was a known defender of Khama and his leadership style.

Many were shocked on Saturday when she led the weekend rally in prayer. 'There is freedom to express oneself in the BMD. So, you should not be shocked that in no time the majority of us will have gained weight,' joked Modisapodi.

As leaders shouted the BMD slogan of 'Shapa BMD Shapa!' it was clear that whilst not all in attendance were BMD, the majority responded with a V-sign for victory to the speakers. By Friday afternoon, the city's major shopping centres were turned into flea markets with BMD agents selling the party's paraphernalia brightened by the orange which is the distinguishing feature from the BDP colours.

BMD has apparently adopted a gospel hit: 'Saule o nthorisetsang...O ntshitisa go rapela,' which was belted out incessantly during the proceedings. Wynter Mmolotsi, Francistown South MP and a member of the BMD interim leadership comments: 'BMD is not just in fashion, it provides hope for a lot of abused BDP diehards and Batswana in general. We are hopeful that things will improve and help us change the current government'.

The BMD interim chairman, Gomolemo Motswaledi, reiterated the views of other BMD leaders that Khama has killed democracy in the BDP and the government.

He also had a problem with people who do not adapt to the challenges of the modern world. 'Batho ba ora molelo ba godile ka jaana ba thaetse go o ora ba le bannye- people gather around the fireside in their old age because they missed the opportunity when they were young'.

President Khama often gathers people around the fireplace meet people, often village elders. Motswaledi dismissed this as a waste of time and resources.

He encouraged the rally to change government through the ballot and bring peace and freedom.