DK distances himself from Barata-Phathi

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday March 24, 2010 00:00

 

The Barata-Phathi stalwart, who has been missing in action from the faction, said Kagiso and Opelo Kwelagobe are adults and represented themselves at the meeting. 'They are not under 18 are they? We are talking of adults. They did not even have to let me know that they were going there,' DK said. He added that the presence of the duo at the meeting was coincidental. He said he has hope that peace can still be brokered to avoid a BDP split.

'Yes, we are trying that. I think we can. That is what we are doing (brokering peace). One hopes that it can be achieved (peace),' Kwelagobe said in a brief telephone interview. There is talk that despite the quit notice given to members of Barata-Phathi faction on Monday by the BDP, President Ian Khama met yesterday with former presidents Festus Mogae and Ketumile Masire to find a peaceful resolution to the troubles bedevilling the party.

Some say it could be a matter of time before DK, a traditional Barata-Phathi leader joins the breakaway party given that his children were at the Saturday meeting where President Ian Khama was reportedly bashed. Kwelagobe's daughter, Opelo did not return phone calls from Mmegi but the son Kagiso said he had not yet made up his mind about joining the new party. 'There are a few things I am looking at. It is not a final decision yet,' he explained. He said he is still a member of the BDP and distanced himself from Barata-Phathi. 'I am a member of the BDP, not a member of Barata-Phathi. That is where it ends,' he said.

He stated that he learnt about a statement from the BDP central committee on Friday warning members not to attend the Saturday meeting after the event but this would not have prevented him from making an appearance.

He said they were not representing their father at the meeting. 'He was not  there both in person nor in spirit, I can categorically state that. Me and my sister we have our own independent minds. We  were not representing our father,' Kagiso said.

His elder brother, Itseng did not attend the Barata-Phathi meeting and declared himself a BDP member through and through. 'I am a BDP man proper. Even my membership card is here with me in my pocket,' he said. Opelo and Kagiso are among the 300 or so BDP members ordered by the party on Monday night to surrender their membership cards or brace for disciplinary measures for violating the warning not to attend the Saturday meeting.