Khama leads troops to 'Old Naledi'

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday May 20, 2010 00:00

 

The council should have been held in March but it was postponed on account of reports of a possible split, which later gave birth to the Botswana Movement for Democracy. Khama is on an anti-crusade against the new BMD having addressed a similar meeting in Francistown. 

At the  Francistown rally, Khama challenged all the elected representatives who were leaving the party to resign their seats describing them as 'power hungry'. 

He said if they do not resign their seats they will face the might of the BDP at the 2014 general elections.   The BMD dared Khama to call a snap election. The BMD argues that there is no law in the country which bars MPs from crossing the floor with elected seats. 

They say the BDP had benefited from a similar dispensation in the past. During the well-attended Francistown South rally, the BDP had ferried its members from all over the country.

Just like in Francistown South where he addressed a massive meeting, Gaborone South is believed to have a strong following for the newly formed BMD. The presidential rallies are meant to counter the new movement. 

A BMD activist vowed that MP, Kagiso Molatlhegi, who won the Gaborone South constituency last year, has it for the last time.  MP Molatlhegi is regarded as a Khama loyalist.  

The BMD activist said Gaborone South is one of their strongholds.  It was for the first time during last year's elections, that the BDP managed to win the Gaborone South constituency after 25 years.

Khama's star rallies were a big boost last year as the BDP was campaigning in the primary elections.  Khama criss-crossed the country to address rallies at constituencies where the opposition was strong.

Just a day before the general election, he addressed such a rally at Old Naledi, arriving there on a bicycle. Soon after the election, Khama was back again at Old Naledi this time for a victory rally.  All except Botsalo Ntuane attended the victory rally.

Khama had not campaigned for him at Gaborone West South.   It was not surprising that Ntuane became one of the founders of BMD. One of the grievances of the BMD founders is about Khama's autocratic style of leadership.

The BDP has lined up women to speak at tomorrow rally. The speakers will include the chairperson of the BDP's women's wing, Angelinah Sengalo, Malebogo Kruger, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Lesego Motsumi and Botlhogile Tshireletso.  But it will be Khama who will be the main man.