Maswibilili attacks Moupo

OLIVER MODISE
Staff Writer | Tuesday July 8, 2008 00:00

 

Maswibili was speaking at a BCP political rally in Gaborone West-South organised to welcome former BNF councillor Malema Phaladi who has defected to the BCP after losing the BNF primary elections for Bophirima ward. Maswibili took a swipe at Moupo accusing him of trying to trick the BCP under the pretext of forming a working relationship between the two parties. He told the crowd that Moupo and his party had walked out of the opposition cooperation talks because they wanted the BCP to join the BNF.

He said that he wondered what new initiative the BNF leader had in mind when he had all along claimed that his party is the largest and others should join it. 'What has changed between now and then?,' he asked.

He said that his party is not going to fall for Moupo's tricks aimed at destabilising the BCP's and Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) campaign for the 2009 general elections. 'If you have anything new to tell us, say it and if its possible, we will cooperate in 2014,' said Maswibilili.

He added that the BNF was fond of wooing BCP ahead of elections in a bid to de-campaign it. He argued that in the run up to the 2004 elections, the BNF made a similar proposal, only to turn back and attack BCP. He accused Moupo of being a ruling party operative who wanted to wreck opposition parties.

He criticised President Ian Khama's latest initiatives arguing that Batswana are not interested in constituency football teams or the establishment of a social values committee. He urged Khama to focus on tackling poverty and unemployment instead of donating soccer balls.

The BCP chairman called for military intervention in Zimbabwe. He warned that if Mugabe is not removed from power, Batswana will continue to complain that Zimbabweans are taking their jobs and fuelling crime.

Present at the rally were BCP's sole MP Dumelang Saleshando, the party's candidate for Gaborone West North Annah Motlhagodi and Abby Chengeta who is set to face BNF's Robert Molefhabagwe and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Botsalo Ntuane in Gaborone West South.

Saleshando said that Phaladi's defection is a major boost for his party especially since he is a sitting councillor. He said that his party is seriously campaigning to introduce and sell policies that counter those of the BDP in the coming general elections. He said BDP recently launched its agricultural policy and will soon launch an HIV/AIDS policy after its congress this month. He lambasted the BNF for parading with slogans under the pretext that they are party policies.

He jabbed at BNF MPs accusing them of being relaxed and behaving like their party was in power. Saleshando said that many BNF MPs are ignorant on key issues affecting Batswana.

Meanwhile, Phaladi said he is forever bonded to the party because it is interested in liberating Batswana from the BDP. He said that lately, BNF members are being accused of rape.

'Rapists have to be shunned,' he said. He added that Moupo is taking BNF to the grave and members should leave and join the BCP.