Ntsatsi quits BCP ahead of Selebi Phikwe East by-elections

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Friday February 4, 2011 00:00

Masego Sylvia Ntsatsi told Mmegi in an interview that she resigned from the BCP after she was vetted out from contesting the party's primary elections.  Ntsatsi said the party's decision to vet her out of the primary elections was not transparent, was unfair and undemocratic.   'I just received a phone call telling me that I have been vetted out after preparing for the primary elections,' Ntsatsi said. 

Ntsatsi said that she had paid her candidate fees and had recruited new members to the party.  She said that she found it strange that as the only woman candidate she was vetted out, saying that maybe the BCP does not value women politicians.

However, BCP Publicity Secretary, Taolo Lucas, said that Ntsatsi was vetted out because she did not meet the party's minimum requirements for primary election candidates.  Lucas said that the party expects candidates to show continuous interest and participation in party activities, and that Ntsatsi ceased showing any interest in party activities after the last general elections.  Lucas said the party's central committee endorsed the vetting committee's decision to vet Ntsatsi out for these reasons.

'The decision is fair as far as the stipulated regulations of the party, and the fairness of it emanates from a lawful regulation of the party and it affects everybody,' he said.

On Ntsatsi's decision to contest as an independent candidate, Lucas said that she is within her rights to do so, and said that her political future is in her own hands.

Ntsatsi, however, rubbished these claims saying that she has remained active in the party even after the 2009 elections.  Ntsatsi said that she was one of the founding members of the BCP, and that she was treasurer of the Youth League when the party was formed.  She said that she has never been one to be idle, saying that along with working for the party she has worked with numerous volunteer organisations such as the Village Development Committee and that she was a member of the Botswana Mine Workers Union when she was still with BCL mine. 

She has now decided to contest as an independent candidate adding that her supporters have urged her to contest.  She said that she thinks she has a high chance of winning the by-elections since she knows and has worked with the people in her constituency.  She said in the last by-elections, with 416 votes, she was the only opposition party candidate with the highest number of votes.   The  seat for Ikageleng Phase I ward councillor became vacant after the Botswana Democratic Party councillor, Letsweletse Dinale, passed away late last year.