BDP not interested in Khan or Dr. Mmatli – Masisi

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chairman Mokgweetsi Masisi says his party is not interested in Umbrella for Democratic Change MPs for both Molepolole North and South.

Masisi who is also Vice President made this claim last week at the party head-office when welcoming into the BDP fold members of opposition parties. The defectors were from Botswana Congress Party and Botswana Movement for Democracy. Masisi said the BDP is not interested in Molepolole South MP Dr. Tlamelo Mmatli and MP for Molepolole North Mohammed Khan as has been reported in recent weeks.

Masisi said those close to Dr. Mmatli should alert him that the BDP is not interested in him. There have been allegations that linked Dr. Mmatli to the ruling party. Dr. Mmatli who is BMD Policy Director has dismissed the claims. He stated that all he knows is that each week he is being ‘welcomed’ to the BDP. BMD Vice President Wynter Mmolotsi has also expressed doubt that his colleague is on his way to the BDP.

Claims of Dr. Mmatli joining the BDP surfaced when scores of BMD members from his constituency started defecting to the BDP. Dr. Mmatli once revealed that the ruling party was recruiting him and had promised him a cabinet post. BDP on the other hand has for some weeks indicated that it has a ‘big fish’ to welcome from opposition ranks.

Last week Masisi revealed that the party is in final negotiations with the person but indicated that it is not Dr. Mmatli. He said the ‘big fish’ who was supposed to have been welcomed to the BDP made a change of mind at the last minute but “this does not mean he or she would not be coming to join the BDP. The person has requested that we should afford him or her some time to finalise some issues”.