Rammidi spoils UDC victory bash

BY PETER MADIYA The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) victory celebrations after walloping Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in a by-election in Mochudi East this past weekend were abruptly cut short when Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Secretary General Kentse ‘Nchi’ Rammidi quit opposition ranks for the ruling party this week. Hardly 24 hours after the Mochudi East results were announced on Sunday, Rammidi on Monday dropped a bombshell, handing in his resignation before being welcomed by BDP President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday. BCP is a key partner in the UDC as their president Dumelang Saleshando also doubles as the Vice President of the Umbrella coalition. UDC Secretary General, Moeti Mohwasa declined to comment on the impact of Rammidi’s sudden resignation from a coalition partner, saying the man did not hold any important position in the UDC but at BCP.

“At this present moment, we cannot comment but BCP can since he was their member,” Mohwasa said. BCP president, Saleshando confirmed Rammidi’s resignation saying the latter only cited personal reasons as opposed to any wrongdoing on the side of his party. Immediately after he was welcomed at the BDP, there was talk of Rammidi having had financial problems assumed to have led to him seeking possible assistance from either the ruling party itself, or from a moneyed member of the ruling party who might have offered help only if the politician returned to the party. Social media posts yesterday suggested with ‘In the matter between’ cuttings that he was owing the National Development Bank (NDB) and his land was thus being auctioned away to recover the money.

The narrative thus pointed to him going cap in hand to the party that made him, moreso that in the opposition, no one seemed to care about his personal predicament. Rammidi is also believed to have lost patience with the leadership of the UDC that failed to allow for fair selection and election of candidates to represent the coalition. Rammidi has several times expressed sentiments seeking that primary elections be held by the UDC, a matter the party did not entertain. That way, Rammidi was left with a situation where he would have no parliamentary seat to contest for since his Kanye North constituency he represented as BCP candidate in 2014, was given to the BNF.

Nchi as he is affectionately known by his hordes of supporters debuted his political career at BDP in the Southern District where he once held the position of Chairperson for two terms before successfully trying his luck as Member of Parliament. He would later land himself an assistant ministerial position in the ministry of local government and lands in 2011. Rammidi was not only a Secretary General at BCP but a very important figure within the UDC who is well experienced as a politician, having earned his stripes through hard work and devotion to the struggle of political movements. When he joined BCP as their Secretary General, he had made it clear that if the party did not match his ambition for growth and win-win partnerships, he would not take long to make his mind to quit. Those close to him say a divided opposition does not make sense at all for him since it cannot topple the ruling party from power in the 2019 general elections.

He wanted the UDC member parties to disband and a form just one solid party where positions would be contested for. His desire to be a future leader of a party whilst at BDP was shown when he chose to resign as assistant minister to run for the position of Secretary General. Barely a month after being elected as Secretary General he resigned from BDP accusing former president Ian Khama of running the party like a one-man show following the 2011 industrial strike which left a good number of public servants jobless. He joined the BNF, but before long defected to the BCP. His sudden departure comes at a time when some disgruntled members of the UDC want the recent constitutional congress resolutions resolved as quickly as possible. He was welcomed to the BDP along with hordes of other BCP members, among them Phagenyane Phage, Councilor Elijah Motsamai, Ernest Nthobelang and University of Botswana academic Professor Thapelo Otlogetswe.