Mfa, Ntuane differences cost BDP?

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday November 9, 2007 00:00

At the centre of the problem is the last minute change of heart by Specially Elected MP Botsalo Ntuane to challenge incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Olifant Mfa.

Ntuane is now the BDP's 2009 general election candidate for Gaborone West South. He had earlier agreed to contest the Nata/Gweta constituency, hence the tiff.

Last Sunday, the BCP welcomed about 105 former BDP card-carrying members from the villages of Gutamogoree, Mosetse and Dukwi in the Nata/Gweta constituency. 'They told us they were disgruntled with the way things are done in the party. Mainly, they declared that they were robbed of a candidate of their choice in Ntuane,' said Vain Mamela, the BCP regional chairman for North East constituency.

He stated that the 105 former BDP members are disgruntled about many issues. In particular, he said one by one they had declared that they no longer wanted to follow the BDP as their favourite candidate (Ntuane) would not be in the race for Nata/Gweta.

'The feeling is that Ntuane was prevented by the party leader from making his own choice, which has angered his supporters. As a result, we expect to welcome more of the (disgruntled) BDP members from other areas.'

Mamela said that amongst those welcomed into the BCP ranks was the party's main constituency organiser, Paul Mazumi, who resides in Mosetse village. 'He is an old party organiser and will be very helpful to the BCP. He assisted Richard Ndwapi then and has been assisting Mfa in the area,' said Mamela. Mazumi is a former administrator at the Mosetse Brigade.

Mamela claimed that the tiff between Mfa and Ntuane has split the constituents so much that 'there is even bitterness even among the prominent figures'.

He indicated that one of the major worries is that villagers now want a 'son of the soil' because Mfa and former MP Mudongo Maswikiti are both from Nshakazhogwe, which is outside their area.

'If we work very hard, we expect to continue recruiting from the BDP membership,' said Mamela, who was over the moon yesterday.

Contacted for comment, Mfa said: 'As you know Parliament is on; so I might not know what is going on out there. By the way, our constitution is very clear. If any of the party members wants to opt out, he/she is at liberty to do so,' said Mfa.

He stressed that it was fair for those who have left the party to join the BCP than to have BCP members masquerading as BDP faithful.

'It's not new to have some of the party members joining the opposition rather than having some disillusioned members pulling the party down for their selfish ends.'

He indicated that he would not 'beg' those who wished to cross the floor for whatever reasons. 'Ga ke ba rapele o ba bolelele (I won't beg them and you must tell them),' said Mfa.

He would rather remain with a few dedicated members interested in building the party instead of destroying it. 'I would be comfortable to remain with party loyalists and all those who want to go had better go. A ba tsamaye fela botlhe (They better all go).'

When Mmegi reached him for comment yesterday, BDP deputy executive secretary Fidelis Molao said he was in the dark about the issue. 'Well, as a party, it is news to us. I do not think we have not lost 105 members because that is a high number that we could have learnt of much earlier,' said Molao.
He dismissed the claim as BCP propaganda.