Majaga on thin ice
President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s remarks at a star rally held last Saturday in Nata has left tongues wagging in the constituency.
In fact, some party members are even suggesting that the President could be planning that the current legislator Polson Majaga does not contest the party primaries slated for April.
“This party has a constitution that governs it, you should be submissive to the BDP. The process is in the few weeks to come, we will invite those who wish to represent us to apply and we will thoroughly examine them.
“If they don’t meet the criteria of the BDP they are out, but they should remain as a party supporter. If you are not ready for that don’t waste your time and money by applying to contest,” Masisi said.
Masisi claims that the remarks are meant as advice to those who wish to contest to save their money and not contest if they don’t meet the BDP standard.
“If you know that you have been going against the party even if you are in office, save your money because we will vet you out. We don’t want candidates who are disrespectful and those that are not ready to work for the party or those that dismantle when we are trying to build,” Masisi warned.
According to Masisi, some people have a tendency to wear party colours while in actual fact they are masquerading and working against the party.
“I always know what is happening because I receive reports that even when we are preparing for events like this one (star rally), some people (holding offices) can go against that, we do not want that kind of people, we want welcoming people.”
These remarks by Masisi have left some BDP members in the constituency convinced that he was firing salvos at the incumbent MP, Polson Majaga. They build their case on the fact that, for the first time in a star rally, a sitting MP was denied an opportunity on the agenda. Instead, he was scheduled to speak alongside other prospective candidates.
“It has never happened before, it is clear that Masisi wanted his preferred candidate, Dr Ben Radihepi to be seen because he is not known at the expense of Majaga. In fact, a night before the star rally, Majaga was part of the agenda but he was removed in the morning after the arrival of Masisi at a meeting held at Pelican Lodge in Nata. “So it seems Masisi is against Jagas (Majaga) who in my observation, is the most hardworking MP we have ever had in this area,” a senior party figure told this publication.
The BDP primaries are expected in no time, and the process to vet could be devastating in two folds; heads of those that Masisi does not want will roll but observers also contend that the president should not impose candidates on the voters as the party might come out bruised by losing some constituencies.
In Nata-Gweta there are five candidates; Polson Majaga, Mbanga Mbanga, Olifant Mfa, Monty Montshioa and Dr Radihepi.