Masunga denies return to BDP

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday November 19, 2010 00:00

'As a principled politician and a founding member of the BMD, I have no reason to backtrack to the BDP. I wonder why the media can be so harsh that people can choose to spread malicious rumours about others without the courtesy to verify the information first,' queried Masunga.

Instead, Masunga described himself as a hardcore BMD operative and regards himself to be responsible for the growth of the BMD in the Francistown region.

He finds it naive to be associated with the BDP when 'I have never even registered an interest to rejoin them.  I regard the story carried in a local weekly this week as trash and an act of irresponsibility by the newspaper and its reporter.  Newshounds should not be used by some people for sinister purposes'.

He claimed that ever since the 'malicious story' was published, ' I have been inundated with calls from the party faithfuls wondering if I have indeed defected or not.'

At worst, Masunga said, the story has sown a seed of hatred because some people no longer trust him.

Masunga felt that people have a right to speculate, 'but I find it to be irresponsible reporting that newshounds would just write their stories without verifying with the concerned parties.'

He assured BMD members and leadership that he was not going anywhere as, 'I will be contesting for the position of the regional secretary at the forthcoming inaugural regional congress.'

To show his commitment to the BMD, Masunga indicated that, 'just this past weekend I was supervising the elections at the Francistown South branch committee.  It's worrying that my commitment to the BMD was questioned by a newspaper.'