Pheto accuses BDP of under-hand tactics in his constituency

438,Lekopanye Mooketsi,,2013/october/04,2013-10-04 14:27:04, | Friday May 30, 2014 00:00

The MP has quit the BDP and is defending his seat as an independent candidate. He said he does not mind the book donations, only that they are made by BDP functionaries and not government officials. He said the donations are made to school heads who organise a handing over ceremony with parents and BDP representatives where the party’s banners are put up. Pheto accused the BDP of turning public institutions into political fora. “It is abuse of power. If an opposition party were to do this, the school head would be fired. But since it is the ruling party, they don’t see anything wrong with it,” he said.

The BDP regional chairman Chommie Letlole has dismissed the legislator as a cry baby. He explained that when cabinet minister and Pheto’s BDP opponent, Vincent Seretse, toured schools in the constituency, they brought their book shortage plight to his attention. It was then that Seretse pledged to donate books and stationary.

Letlole appealed to Pheto and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) candidate, Phagenyane Phage to also make donations. “Instead of complaining, Pheto should also donate books. He doesn’t care about our schools because his children don’t attend schools in the constituency,” he said. He said Pheto had been MP for the area for 15 years but has failed to donate books. He said Seretse heads the Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s ‘Adopt a School’ appeal and his acts of generosity are unrelated to elections.

Letlole accused Pheto of  slaughtering goats in the constituency to entertain voters and even donated a cow to a school. “He is a hypocrite. When he was slaughtering goats, wasn’t he also indirectly campaigning?” he fumed.