Wherever you go, we will follow

Various speakers at a meeting called by former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) president Ian Khama in Serowe took turns to promise that they would vote the ruling party out of power at the general elections slated for later this year. This was after listening to the lamentations of Khama at a meeting he had called Bangwato for a gathering at the Serowe showgrounds on Saturday. Khama had briefed the tribe on his problems with the leadership of the BDP under President Mokgweetsi Masisi which he said had compelled him to consider dumping his father’s party. When addressing the people on what he termed undemocratic tendencies meted on him by his party, Khama went on to tacitly campaign for the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) led by Duma Boko, calling on his people to consider bringing the main opposition party into power. He told his audience that despite all that could be done by anybody to trample on their rights and freedoms, they should remember that the greatest weapon they could use is the ballot. An interview with a Councillor of Malatswai, Baitshepi Mosimanegape on the sidelines of the meeting suggested that a plan was already put out in motion for those with influence to go and rally people behind Khama’s wishes. Councillor Mosimanegape was beaming with excitement when he spoke to The Midweek Sun: “This is the time we have been waiting for. We are going out there to consult and mobilise as requested by Khama.” Speaking openly during comments and question time, Motshereganye Sentsho, who said he had received warning letters from the party for his outspokenness, said he was happy Khama had come to see them. “Your father said you should rely on your tribe,” he said, endorsing the idea of helping the opposition to beat the BDP at the general elections this year. “Your problems are our problems. We have been waiting for you and now we know your position. Wherever you go, we go with you,” added Bernard Letsididi. An unidentified elderly woman, who was rather emotional, wondered where Dr Masisi’s father was when the BDP was formed by Seretse Khama. “I am a founding member of the BDP and we have suffered for this party. Re tsamaya le wena,” she said to Khama. Another unidentified man wondered what was wrong with the 5th President of Botswana. “We are members of the BDP because of your father. Anywhere you go, we will go with you and if you delay in returning to us, we will have joined Bokwe (Boko) by the time you come,” he said. “The Bible says we should respect our fathers. We should also respect our Dikgosi. It seems we are losing our culture. We are happy you came and will await your return,” said Lawrence Bodilonyane who also endorsed Khama’s project to decampaign the Masisi government ahead of the elections this October. Yet another unidentified man from Palapye assured Khama that the people of Palapye would not vote the BDP. “Even the people of Serowe will not vote the BDP because the party leadership has betrayed our Kgosikgolo,” he said. Kebaalotse Sethong from Lerala assured the meeting that he could never desert his Kgosikgolo. “We are in mourning because our MP (Prince Maele) has been suspended and we have asked him to contest as an independent candidate. “Things are now clear because we have been wondering where you were when our party was being torn apart by the dogs,” said Sethong before promising Khama that wherever he goes, he too will follow him.