MOLALE POWER HUNGRY
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Southern Regional Committee had scheduled a meeting for this week Tuesday (yesterday) whose purpose was to devise a plan to clear confusion and regain confidence in the Goodhope-Mabule constituency.
The meeting comes amidst speculation that the incumbent Goodhope Mabule Member of Parliament (MP) Kgosi Lotlaamoreng is not in good health and is allegedly contemplating quitting or alternatively, crossing the floor to the ruling party. The village grapevine is said to be rife with suspicions that Lotlaamoreng could soon dump the UDC and that another by-election looms after he was allegedly seen meeting with some Executive members of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
It is further alleged that the reason why there is water shortage in the Southern region is because the area is in the hands of the opposition. Fuelling suspicions of a looming by-election has also been the recent widely broadcast campaigns by Minister of Presidential Affairs Eric Molale, who has been holding political rallies in some parts of the constituency over the holidays.
It is suspected that Minister Molale is privy to confidential information about Lotlaamoreng’s political career, and now fancies his prospects to recapture the constituency for the BDP.
Should this come to pass, President Ian Khama’s succession plan, in which Molale is said to be a key figure, would fall back in track after it was derailed last year when Lotlaamoreng defeated Molale in a by-election following James Mathokgwane’s decision to join the public service. Khama allegedly wants Molale to be his Vice President.
However, an opposition insider told The Midweek Sun that Tuesday’s meeting was not an emergency but an attempt to calm the situation in the region and later engage the executive of the UDC on the way forward. He said they are not worried about Molale‘s rallies and that they intend to keep Barolong‘s confidence in the MP.
Publicity Secretary for UDC partner party Botswana National Front Justin Hunyepa dismissed speculation that Lotlaamoreng is likely to cross the floor. He said the MP has fully regained his health and is fit enough to continue with his duties as he has been absent from parliament. He dismissed Molale‘s campaigns as ‘meaningless propaganda’ by a “power hungry” man, “abusing state media to confuse people instead of focusing his energies on vital issues like creating employment.” He stated that Molale is not even the MP for the constituency but is wasting public resources and causing unnecessary confusion.
“We will address this issue but for now our structures in the Southern region are working on it, and if need be we will also come on board and see where to aid, but for now everyone including BDP activists should know that Barolong will only vote again in 2019,” said Hunyepa.