BCP accused of saving BDP from losing elections
The Botswana Congress Party always saves the ruling Botswana Democratic Party by leaving the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition thereby strategically splitting votes when the opposition should vote as a collective to defeat the ruling party.
This was observed by Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkange, Dr Never Tshabang when unveiling the UDC’s Mapoka-Nlapkhwane ward by-election candidate, Nabulani Lenyatso. The by-election is scheduled for 29th April.
A BCP member when he won the constituency in 2019, Tshabang alongside three BCP MPs, have since joined the UDC after they were expelled from the BCP following differences with the party leadership. The quartet joined the UDC as direct members.
“The President’s sister, Boitumelo Phadi Mmutle got tenders the moment her brother, Mokgweetsi Masisi became Head of State. She knew nothing about cattle rearing before that but now, she and Masisi have plenty of cattle hidden at Banyana Farms,” the University of Botswana don claimed at a rally in Mapoka over the weekend.
By contrast, he told the audience that the UDC leader, Duma Boko is not scrambling for tenders. “Instead, Boko survives on his law firm,” stated the MP, suggesting that unlike the BDP leader who according to him, is greedy, the UDC leader is a paragon of humility.
The academic also took a swipe at the BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando and his party. Dr Tshabang considers Saleshando a spoiler.
“It is curious that the BCP president, Saleshando is always rescuing the BDP from election loss. There certainly is something going on,” said Dr Tshabang, who announced to all and sundry that, “I am from the BCP and there is no honesty there.”
Introducing Lenyatso, he maintained that the BCP is a major hindrance to regime change. According to the MP, both the BDP and BCP should be allowed to succumb to their respective natural deaths.
Addressing the candidate, Dr Tshabang said, “What is important is for you to not forget that you were chosen by the people. You must remember the people because they will have sacrificed a great deal for you.
“Do not be derailed from service to the people by tenders. Beware that in your service to the people, you may get hurt like Moswaane (Francistown West MP) who was bundled out of parliament for speaking for his voters.”
For his part, the MP for Francistown West, Ignatius Moswaane also alluded to President Masisi’s greed for wealth.
“As the sitting President, he is paid P100 000 monthly. After retirement, he will be earning P80 000 for life. His wife will get free accommodation from government. With all this comfort, what else does Masisi want? He should stop competing with ordinary people for tenders,’’ Moswaane queried.
According to the MP, the problems in the BDP and its government come from the fact that both the party and its government are led by greenhorns.
“Those positions should be in the hands of the likes of Ponatshego Kedikilwe and Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Bo setlaboshane ba phamotse sepachi,” Moswaane said, calling upon UDC members not to accept food and other gifts from BDP politicians since the items will have been bewitched for the targets to give the vote to the BDP unintentionally.
Richard Gudu a veteran of the Botswana Peoples’ Party told Mapoka electorate that the ruling party should stop waxing lyrical about tandabala (old age pension) because, when the BPP leader and MP for Francistown, Philip Matante mooted it in parliament back in 1967, the BDP MPs, led by the then Minister of Finance, Quett Masire scoffed at the idea, calling it a dream that can only be enjoyed by Whites.
"Matante had sought for the poor, elderly and disabled to be assisted by government,” Gudu explained.
BPP’s Francistown constituency chairman Kenalemang Masole is of the view that the dire economic situation in Botswana requires urgent intervention. “The by-election offers us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to regime change,” Masole appealed. “If they give you t-shirts, take them home and use them as door-mats”, he said.