BMD calls for opposition unity

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday October 19, 2010 00:00

 

Dr Tlamelo Mmatli, addressing a BMD rally in Molepolole, said the BMD has no intentions of staying in the opposition for long and urged for opposition unity.

'Combined votes of the opposition in the 2009 general elections show that the opposition could win the elections and take power from the BDP.

It is important that we work together. We are trying to find ways of working together to take power. The ruling party is messing up a lot of things. We need to replace the BDP government. The Zimbabwean economy is in the gutters because of misrule and this is where we are going,' he said.

The official explained that BMD is looking at cooperating and not merging with any opposition party. It will be joining in a partnership with the others as an independent party, he said. Mmatli said because the BMD is a democratic political party, they will consult with the membership on the modalities of cooperating with other opposition political parties.

Meanwhile Boribamo ward councillor, Moses Mmualefhe, also speaking at the same rally, implored opposition parties in Molepolole North to make life difficult for the area legislator, assistant Health Minister Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri by campaigning and recruiting his supporters to leave the ruling party.

'We should work together as a united team and ensure that we overthrow him at the polls in 2014. If we miss the opportunity of coming together and taking power, the BDP government might change the constitution and say now they banning opposition parties, thus turning Botswana into a one party state. So let us strike now when they are still reeling from the wounds of splitting that resulted with the BMD formation,' he said.

Mmualefhe implored activists to target youth and the elderly who have not been active in party politics and ensure that they vote in the next general elections.

'Matlhabaphiri must not be allowed to win the elections again. He was away in Namibia when we worked hard campaigning for our then party (BDP).

He just came when everything was ripe. We have advised our BMD operatives to ensure they are part of the cells committees in Molepolole North so that they can always know what is happening and report to us.

We also need them there (inside the BDP) so that they can mess up the party from inside so that by 2014 we simply annihilate it,' he said.

Interim vice-chairman Botsalo Ntuane gave a background of how the BMD was formed. In the process, he told his audience that because of the factionalism in the BDP, the likes of BDP chairman Daniel Kwelagobe, were persecuted by BDP President Ian Khama, whilst 'his supposed friend and fellow democrat in Molepolole, Matlhabaphiri kept quiet, simply because he wanted to protect his position and also to ensure he stays in good terms with the president,' he said.