Saleshando tells BNF to 'wake up'

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Monday November 29, 2010 00:00

Addressing a Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) rally last Saturday Saleshando warned the BNF that otherwise it will be severely punished in 2014. In a language that amused many opposition members who attended the BMD launch, Saleshando looked around for any members of the BNF and said, 'my word of advice ke gore, tsogang tlhe banna (is, wake up men).'  The presence of BCP in the BMD launch marked a serious commitment to unseat the ruling party by the opposition. Saleshando said he, however, thinks that BNF President Duma Boko will act timeously on the issue of cooperation and said the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been frightened by the BCP/BMD unity.

He expressed joy to have attended the BMD rally for the first time and said he attended to enjoy himself as he witnesses his 2008 words coming to pass. 'In 2008 I said I will hand power to the new generation and by then BMD was non existent. Now I witness what I meant and even if I'm to die today I will die a happy man.'

Guma Moyo told party members that he is there to stay and was met with deafening applause. He said whoever thinks he can turn back must be shortsighted and said it is not all about money but what he believes in. 'I am not going anywhere, they would rather think that on somebody else not me. I'm one of the BMD founders and we were forced by circumstances to form it therefore we will never look back.' He, however, advised that it is a rough terrain the party is heading to and said it is not going to be an easy task to assume power in 2014. He indicated that they are faced with a serious challenge of explaining the party policies to the electorate. 'Re rumotse domi (we have provoked Domkrag) but our unity, conduct and respect to others will see us through. It is all about our values.'

Kgatleng West MP, Gilbert Mangole, did not mince his words when he attacked President Ian Khama who he said does not respect other people. He said though they preach respect to their members, they will never respect those who fail to do the same towards them. Mangole stressed that they want Parliament to be autonomous of the executive. 'It's a supreme body that should not be controlled by the President and that it is why we want constitutional review.'

Botsalo Ntuane said what they are witnessing is a chronicle of a new dawn and a change of Botswana’s political landscape. He said BMD's being has been precisely prophesised by the world's renowned prophet TB Joshua of Nigeria in 2009 and Zambian Francis Ngombe in 1998. He said nobody will be able to deter the coming 'tsunami' in 2014 when Botswana will experience a political history of the change of government. Ntuane said it was not surprising that the ruling party had to split in order for the government to change. 'It is a pattern, once the ruling party splits it prepares to hand over the baton. President Ian Khama is the one to blame for the split of the party.

We split because we did not want to operate through the personal opinions of the President but we wanted to be guided by the constitution. He even handed Gaborone Central constituency on a silver platter to the opposition.'