The BDP, which lost the General Election last October split twice during their 58-year rule resulting in the formation of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). The BDP splinter parties took with them party heavyweights amongst them former president Ian Khama who helped form the BPF on the eve of the 2019 General Election. Now Morwaeng, who believes he could be the engine that can turn back BDP’s fortunes in 2029, says the key secret to the party’s return is reconciliation and recruiting old members. Morwaeng told the media this week during a presser that he is the right man for the job of bringing back former members of the once mighty party. “I will fight for reconciliation. I will facilitate this process and rebuild the BDP. Let’s assume we have lost this election and that Batswana didn’t vote for us, there is still a lot to do. As BDP members we should forgive each other because congresses and primary elections had divided us,” he said. Morwaeng said the intention is to recruit members of the now defunct BMD as well as the latter’s splinter party Alliance for Progressives (AP). He said it is not a problem that the AP is currently a member affiliate of the current ruling party-the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). “We want to bring back the AP because all MPs in Parliament currently such as Wynter Mmolotsi, Ndaba Gaolathe, and Pius Mokgware are former BDP, they need to come back. I will also fight to bring back members of the BPF, Khama included,” he said.
Morwaeng was known for criticising Khama at the height of the latter’s feud with former president Mokgweetsi Masisi. The former Molepolole South Member of Parliament (MP) added that BDP needs the support of former presidents such as Masisi, Khama, and Festus Mogae. “I believe that with all those people on board including former MPs, ministers, councillors, the BDP can return to power in 2029. We had the popular vote in October and we are practically the largest party in terms of popular vote. UDC is made up of three parties, but we are far ahead of them,” he noted. Morwaeng said if he manages to reconcile all current BDP members and those who had left for other parties then, the BDP will have all the expertise to return to power. He felt that he would be taking over what is often referred to as ‘the melting pot’ and therefore, believes he is ready. He indicated that even before he served in the Cabinet, he held various positions in the party structures.
Morwaeng recalled how he joined politics as a youth in 1987 and pointed out that he had served the party diligently. He indicated that he deserved to take the BDP forward as the SG. Morwaeng dismissed people who said he shouldn’t contest for upcoming party elections because he was a former Cabinet minister. He said that his experience qualifies him even more. Morwaeng also indicated that besides reconciliation he aims to change the BDP constitution because it gives the president of the party considerable amount of power. He claimed that he had always maintained that the BDP constitution was undemocratic and had uttered the same in 1992 when he was a political education officer. “You can’t have a few people decide who stands for elections. I am not saying it now because I want to be SG. I still maintain that the BDP constitution should be changed. I want MaDomi to choose presidential candidates the way they do with council and MP candidates during primary elections,” he said. Morwaeng recalled an incident in the 90s when the BDP’s committee of 18 denied him a chance to be a candidate for the General Election. He said what happened to him was an eye-opener and led to the establishment of Bulela Ditswe.
Morwaeng added that what happened to Goodhope/Mmathethe legislator Edwin Dikoloti last year opened old wounds and further reminded him that power should not be centred around a few especially one person being the president. Morwaeng said during a congress delegates gather to vote for 10 members of the Central Committee only for the constitution to give the president of the party powers to appoint five additional members. He said that is too much power being given to one person. “I believe that we should reduce the president’s powers,” he highlighted.
