Letlhabile Buzzes With BMD Launch

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

 This is where, last weekend, the embattled Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) held their first council meeting since some members broke away to form a new party.

Ironically, a week later, it is the new breakaway party, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), who are having their inaugural convention at the same venue, replacing the red, black and white colours with, orange, a colour for hope. An orange, white and black balloon was up in the sky as early as 6am to mark yet another change in the country's politics.

The well-attended event saw all 57 constituencies from around the country represented.  The former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi, who was taking over from Botsalo Ntuane as the interim chairperson of the BMD at the convention, was the keynote speaker. Before taking to the podium, Motswaledi led the gathering in song, singing a choir version of 'O mpogisetsang Saulo', referring to biblical commander and King of Israel, Saul. A reference to the struggle he had to endure towards the end of last year's general election when he was suspended from the ruling party.

Motswaledi announced that he was happy to have finally found a political home after a party he loved and served for a long time (BDP) turned its back on him.

He thanked all those who supported him through his hardships saying he would not be where he was had it not been for them. Motswaledi then unveiled the party colours, the slogan and logo and a culture mark.

The party's official colours are orange, black and white, with orange being the dominant colour The party uses a 'V' sign on their symbol and on the culture mark where the sign is shown using the index and the middle fingers.

He said the sign has been used by the English to depict victory and the Americans use it to show friendship, the ideals that the movement aims at achieving in the country. Motswaledi went on to chant the party slogan, Botswana! And the members chanted back 'Wa rona! showing the culture mark with their fingers. All the four MP's who defected from the BDP to the BMD, Wynter Mmolotsi (Francistown South), Gilbert Mangole (Kgatleng West), Samson 'Guma' Moyo (Tati East) and Botsalo Ntuane (Gaborone West South) were present at the convention.

The BMD spokesperson, Sidney Pilane, recently announced that they are expecting four more MP's to cross over from the BDP in the near future, a move that will see opposition MP's in Parliament reaching the mark of 20, which might end up causing the President to call an election.