Factions are BDP's worst enemy - Raditanka

Councillor Lesego Raditanka has warned Botswana Democratic Party members in Tlokweng against factionalism.

Raditanka who was Chief Election Officer during the BDP parliamentary primary elections in the constituency told democrats over the weekend that factions kill the BDP when members allow their emotions to take control of them.

This in turn hurts the party, he said. Elijah Katse won the weekend primaries with 526 votes against Thulaganyo Segokgo’s 302 and 94 garnered by Dr. Phineas Molefhe. He will face Masego Segokgo of the Umbrella for Democratic Change in the coming by-election.

Raditanka warned democrats to guard against what had transpired in Palapye last month happening in Tlokweng. In Palapye, the BDP lost Boikago-Madiba council seat to Botswana Congress Party. The loss was attributed to factionalism within the ruling party in the area. The party was said to have been divided leading to the by-elections.

“We have to think about the party first. This is not the time for people to be self-centered. Katse needs the support of all democrats if we want to win this constituency. He will have to work with everyone even those who did not support him during the primary elections. This was not a competition but we were looking for one person who would represent us,” said Raditanka.

Segokgo and Dr Molefhe accepted the results and pledged their support for Katse. The impending by-election follows the death of area MP Same Bathobakae of  the UDC last year.