Marobela's flirtation with BDP stirs up a storm

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday November 5, 2010 00:00

 

Infact, a disturbing rumour is that Marobela is on the verge of defecting to the BDP.

Marobela took over the leadership of Botswana's oldest political party last year after his immediate predecessor, Bernard Balikani, retired from active politics following the BPP's dismal showing in the general elections last year.

Marobela was previously a member of the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) but he defected after he was barred from contesting the Francistown West parliamentary seat following an electoral pact between the BCP and the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM).

BPP insiders say trouble started a few months ago when the BPP could not state an official position on cooperating with other opposition parties ahead of a by-election in the Tonota North constituency.

There were strong rumours then that the BPP would rather support the ruling BDP than join forces with other opposition parties.

This decision left some members of the BPP leadership with a bitter taste in their mouths to the extent that some of them went against the party grain and gave the BCP morale support as individuals but representing the party unofficially.

Matters came to a head recently when the rumours took on a new twist with information that Marobela wants the BPP to join the BDP through corporate membership.

BPP vice president and veteran politician, Motlatsi Molapise, confirmed yesterday that there was generally 'anger' in the BPP as rumours of Marobela's impending departure spread.

'As the party leadership, we have heard such rumours, though officially we don't have anything relating to that,' said Molapise, who pointed out that some members of the party leadership have even gone to the extent of confronting their president.

Molapise is worried by the fact that 'even after confronting our president about the allegations, he simply informed us that he has also heard about them. He did not see the rationale of responding to such rumours.'

Molapise added that the rumours continue to sow confusion among the BPP rank and file with hatred creeping in: 'There is no one who can clear the air better than Marobela who unfortunately does not see the need to address the people on the matter.'

The BPP executive committee has asked Marobela to call a central committee meeting to straighten out issues. 'The party leadership is worried that instead of taking the matter urgently, the party leader has chosen to call a meeting for November 20 in Francistown,' said Molapise.

He appealed to the BPP faithful to remain calm until the matter is resolved. Molapise said given the BPP's beliefs as a party, 'we are saying no to any proposal to work with the BDP when history shows that we have had good working relations with other opposition parties'.

He regards the BDP as an enemy of the public: 'It is not in the BPP's interests to forge any kind of relationship with the ruling party,' he said.

Although he is reluctant to discuss the party's internal affairs with the press, 'pressure from the party faithful make it appropriate that we distance ourselves from these developments'.

Said Marobela when contacted about the rumour yesterday: 'The rumour that I am about to leave the BPP is not new as it also surfaced recently during the by-election in Tonota North with accusations that I was backing the ruling party.'

He was adamant that all the rumours are baseless and unfounded. 'There are people who will always choose to peddle their stories. I can tell you I am staying put in the BPP despite these stories,' he said.

But what is the leadership position on the matter? 'It was not easy to release a statement based on the rumour mill and nothing substantive. It doesn't work that way at all,' he said.

Despite Marobela's position, BPP chairman, Richard Gudu, concurs with Molapise. Whilst Gudu said he first learnt through the press that Marobela was keen on leading the BPP to cooperate with the BDP, Marobela himself has lately emphasized his wish to see the BPP and other opposition parties cooperating with the BDP.

'Marobela suggested at a meeting with other opposition leaders that they (opposition) should consider cooperating with the BDP. As the BPP leadership, we are taking Marobela's position seriously because this is tarnishing the good name of our party,' Gudu said.

The BPP chairman suggested that if Marobela wanted to cooperate with the BDP, he should not take the party along. 'He should not use the name of the party in anything that he is not mandated to do,' he said.