BCP off to sluggish campaign in Palapye

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Thursday February 14, 2008 00:00

Reports from Palapye show that party supporters loyal to the loser of the January party primaries, Comfort Molosiwa are worried that they are not 'included' in James Olesitse's campaign teams in town.

Although even Molosiwa himself has been roped into one of the BCP campaign teams, 'he has not taken part in such campaigns which form the party's main strategy to make in-roads in the area'.

Whilst Olesitse's supporters are full of energy, wanting to see their man winning, the same does not apply to the other side where Molosiwa's supporters are dragging their feet. Their main worry is that Olesitse has decided to appoint a party activist from Mahalapye, Moncho Moncho as his campaign manager 'leaving outside the likes of Molosiwa who has a good knowledge of the constituency'.

To them this move is like a motion of no confidence in the locals. 'We would rather watch a political match than spoil Olesitse's campaign as it seems it is his and not for the party,' says a supporter.

Olesitse seemed unperturbed by the allegations. 'I have about four campaign teams and all of them are fully balanced as I have in them people who were on Molosiwa's lobby group. I don't think anyone can feel left out in any way,' he said. He showed a balanced list of his campaigners.

'For those who are not in the campaign groups, they are given a stake in other areas,' said Olesitse.

He conceded that the only threat was that 'some Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activists were trying to penetrate us by all means possible'.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Molosiwa, said, 'I don't think that is a problem as I have declared that I am just too busy and it requires a person who is on the ground to give a hand in party activities'.

He said he runs a consultancy from Gaborone and that it was problematic for him to be expected to be on the ground lending support. 'All in all, I am happy with the arrangement that the party has in Palapye,' he said, quashing reports that he was unhappy with 'an outsider' as Olesitse's campaign manager.