Motsamai endorses Boko for BNF presidency

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday May 20, 2010 00:00

 

In his last address to the party youth as president, Motsamai told congregants at the Kanye congress over the weekend that 'as a leader sometimes you must make unpopular decisions. And today I will do that and put my head on the block. Duma Boko should be elected in the upcoming central committee elections to be president of the party. As our party goes on a downward spiral, we need a leader of Boko's ilk, to lift it up to greater heights where it belongs. If he does not deliver on this, then I will cut my finger,' he said, to the glee of some supporters who shouted excitedly, whilst others sat there, shell-shocked by the young leader's words.

Word is now out and people are reacting to it according to whose lobby group they support. The young cadres who support Boko had no qualms and went around telling all and sundry that they are proud supporters of Boko and his group. On the other hand some who support the other candidates Gabriel Kanjabanga and Olebile Gaborone were unnerved and demoralised about Motsamai's endorsement of Boko.

'It was bad and quite uncomradely of the BNFYL president to do that. These are the issues that make it difficult to bring peace and reconciliation and unity in our party which has seen enough strife,' said a BNF youth who did not want to be named.

It had been a planned ploy that Motsamai would wait for the prime opportunity to endorse Boko. Just a few minutes before he could take to the podium one of the known BNFYL leaders approached this reporter and divulged that 'we are going to deliver a killer punch today. Motsamai is going to endorse Boko in his speech,' said the young leader, who also pled anonymity.

Though pundits posit that the (BNFYL) can decide who becomes party president, some presidential candidates have differed about this, claiming the league will have no impact on their elections.

It is a very dicey topic, especially for the presidential candidates of the BNF, who know that whatever they say is being watched and has the potential of swinging votes for or against their favour at the Mochudi congress this July.

When questioned, Gaborone would not commit himself to say the winners of the just ended BNFYL elections would endorse or not endorse his campaign for the presidency, but says that in an ideal situation the new leadership of the BNFYL should not be seen as a catalyst in deciding the presidency of the party.

'It is unfortunate that people like Motsamai can stand before a youth congress and make such statements endorsing Boko. If I win, I will work with the BNFYL executive committee and it should be expected of others, say Duma Boko or Gabriel Kanjabanga if they do win. We are one party after all. Kagiso Ntime, will vote for whom he chooses and I am working towards winning the presidency,' he offers.

On the other hand, Kanjabanga has said it would not be right for a particular youth leader to support a certain BNF presidential candidate. He concurs with his opponent, Gaborone that the youth are part of the BNF and that the Mochudi elections would be an internal party process that should not be used to divide the youth and the party.On the other hand, Ntime is cagey about who he will endorse for the BNF presidency.

'We have to meet probably next week as the BNFYL leadership and form a collective position on whom we will endorse,' he said.