BDP preaches unity

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 26, 2008 00:00

Goya beat Health Minister Professor Sheila Tlou twice in the primaries to clinch the BDP ticket. There has been talk that some supporters of Tlou intend to boycott the by-election or vote for the opposition.

The mood of the party leadership was aptly captured when cabinet minister and BDP stalwart Daniel Kwelagobe urged the well-attended rally to unite, maintain peace and reconcile even if during the primaries 'you stepped on each other's toes'.

He warned the evidently cheerful crowd: 'If we are going to allow petty talk to split us, we would regret because once divided it means the enemy would defeat us easily'.
Kwelagobe who was in his element, often threw the loyal crowd in stitches. He appealed to the BDP members in Palapye that if they had differences before, then the launch means they were burying the hatchet.

'We are going to die and leave the BDP here. Even when your people sing hymn 444 in Zion, bidding some of us farewell, BDP would remain and will not die with us.'
He described unity and peace as the best ingredients to take the BDP to greater heights. He said the Botswana Peoples' Party (BPP) and the Botswana National Front (BNF) have given birth to so many offsprings because of unmanageable divisions.

'Now is the time to deal with any post-primaries fatigue and any differences.' He described how some opposition operatives had to chase one another with tyre levers because they could not manage their emotions.

He stressed that divisions are natural in elections. 'But, that should not in anyway turn into enmity. There was a loser and a winner. You all know that our main wish now is to recapture Palapye constituency and nothing else.'

Kwelagobe appealed to party members not to shun Goya and the BDP saying this would show lack of commitment to the party. He joked that Palapye people should always sing the song about their candidate: 'Ke Goya palamenteng'.

He said Goya will enter Parliament at the right time because he will participate in debating the last part of the National Development Plan (NDP) 9 and the formulation of NDP 10.
He derided the opposition parties saying they only show up when there are political activities like by-elections and the general election. He dismissed reports that Goya at 46 years was still a young man. He said he was elected MP at about 29 years.

Communications, Science and Technology Minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi appealed for peace and unity in Palapye. She said those who support Tlou need help to cope with her loss.

'I expect all of you to forgive each other,' she said before belting out a hymn from the Zion hymnbook called Boitshwarelo jwa Modimo-God's forgiveness. The song was well received with the crowd joining in until she called a stop.

BDP secretary general and Education Minister, Jacob Nkate explained that President Festus Mogae and his deputy Ian Khama were absent from the event because they had tight schedules. 'They have not snubbed Goya. For your information, the party leadership is with Goya and that is the reason we are all here,' he said to a rather less concerned crowd.

'Goya and the people of Palapye, the party is going to help you with anything that you would need for the effective campaign to retain Palapye constituency. Whether you need cars, petrol or just anything to help us win,' promised Nkate.
He explained that the party is united behind Goya to ensure that he wins on March 15. 'If possible, Khama would be here on the day preceding March 15 to motivate BDP members at a rally here in Palapye.'

It must have been good news to Goya to hear Mmaphula councillor, Onneetse Ramogapi making an undertaking that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure that the BDP retains Palapye.

The slow speaking councillor started off by thanking all people that participated in the party primaries. He also thanked the losers to have accepted the results.
To him, this reflected in a big way that the people were more concerned with seeing the party united than divided. Ramogapi was the brain behind Tlou's campaigns.

'There are some of the BDP councillors that were accused of not working with the winning Goya team. I take the responsibility to ensure that Goya wins this one and if anything goes wrong, I will be answerable,' promised Ramogapi to a thunderous applause from the crowd.

There was fear that Ramogapi and some pro-Tlou party activists were going to frustrate Goya's campaigns.
When he rose to speak, Goya was as hot as fire. His antics at the podium amused the people.

First he thanked those who voted for him in the primaries and appealed for support on March 15. 'Ke kopa tlhopho ya lona-I beg for your vote,' he said to a resounding approval from the crowd: 'Re tla go tlhopha-We will vote for you.'
Goya has now become known as the BDP's 'Barack Obama' with his appeal to the masses and ability to articulate the needs of the people.

His main campaign issues include the fight against unemployment, crime and the provision of basic necessities to the residents.
He promised to tackle poverty and give the youth in Palapye recreational facilities to keep them away from mischief.

 
He described Botswana Congress Party candidate, James Olesitse as a perennial loser who did not pose any threat to the BDP. 'You should never make a mistake of voting for the opposition and in particular the BCP and BNF. These people will never make proper decisions in Parliament for you because they are inferior to the BDP in strength,' he warned.