The issuance of the statement was motivated by the Kgotla meeting called on January 28 2008 by Bakwena Tribal Authorities in which the tribe was asked to prepare for the said visit. The said preparation actually meant that the tribe should come up with ways in which it can raise funds to buy President Festus Mogae farewell gifts.
The BNFYL is reliably informed that headmen of different wards were asked to collect gifts (in money form, even though it wasn't intentionally made clear) from their constituents (not forcibly though). As a Movement whose duty is to protect the interests of the downtrodden, we would like to make it clear that we are against attempts by those who have benefited under Mogae's leadership to ask those who have not, to thank him for his 'good leadership'. We are not against the visit of the President, we expect him to come and bid his people goodbye. We expect him to tell us what he has achieved during his tenure as the President of this country but not to get presents from poor people.
