Officially, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has not yet opened up its primaries’ campaign ahead of the 2014 general election.
However, evidence abounds on the ground of behind the scenes campaigns by those aspiring for parliamentary and council seats in philanthropic gestures aimed at endearing themselves to the electorates ahead of the crucial primaries due to be held sometime next year.
In some instances, political foes eyeing same constituencies find themselves without an option but to wine and dine at same events as if no political rivalry obtains between them.
In this typical fashion, Tonota South legislator and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Pono Moatlhodi, found himself sharing the same podium with none other than Thapelo Olopeng at Shashe Mooke Primary School prize-giving ceremony on Friday.
It is an open secret within the BDP circles that Olopeng, a close associate of President Ian Khama, will challenge Moatlhodi in the Tonota South constituency in the coming BDP primaries. He recently engaged in frantic philanthropic overtures of donating blankets and extending a helping hand to the needy in the constituency thereby reinforcing speculation that he has set his eyes on the constituency.
This is in addition to officiating at a number of public events in the constituency, especially at prize giving ceremonies in the area’s schools.
Both Moatlhodi and Olopeng have not yet publicly declared their pending candidature fearing to breach the party’s rules and regulations governing primaries.
At the Shashe Mooke Primary School prize-giving ceremony, Moatlhodi gave the key note address while Olopeng, who resuscitated and funded the defunct ceremony at the tune of P15 000 was the guest speaker.
Clad in blue suits, the duo did not exhibit any hostility towards one another as they kept their cool in what was evidently a very tense event. When Moatlhodi arrived, Olopeng rose from his seat and was among the first to give Moatlhodi a welcome hug.
In what was obviously a well orchestrated plan to separate the two, in between them set the school principal (on Moatlhodi’s right) and the PTA chairman on Olopeng’s left.
Welcoming guests, the schools deputy principal, Mpejane said they have consistently posted good performance in the past few years and was also thankful to a number of companies that have made numerous donations, including computers to the school.
Among the companies that have graciously extended a helping hand to the school are Orange Botswana, Bayport Financial Services and Nice Touch among others.
She observed that the outstanding performance of the school (91 percent in 2010 and 80 percent in 2011) were a result of cooperation between the villagers and the teachers. She, however, lamented that due to the rapid expansion of the village due to its proximity to the City of Francistown, they were faced with the challenge of shortage of facilities such as classrooms and an administration block.
The school head, Fidzani Morapedi, thanked Olopeng for his donation that enabled them to hold the prize giving ceremony. Bayport Financial Services’ Father Maphongo, a resident of Shashe Mooke, donated P5000 at the event.
In his official address, Olopeng said such events encouraged cooperation and inculcated a spirit of selflessness and humility on the students and urged all parents to ensure that their children are sent to school and assisted with their school work.
He added that the prize giving ceremony resonated with its theme of Awarding Performance: A Pivotal role in Academic Excellence, adding that it was the responsibility of parents to nurture their children into responsible citizens.
Olopeng also urged the children to ensure that education was their first priority and that they should never do anything that is likely to distract their studies.
For his part, Moatlhodi applauded the school for its sterling performance citing the awarding of a certificate of Excellence to one of the students (Tumelo Moatlhodi) as an achievement worth celebrating.
He also thanked the teachers for recently making a donation to one destitute (David) of Mahalapye village.
The legislator also thanked Debswana Diamond Company for its generous donations to the village of Shashe Mooke in excess of P100 000 in addition to connecting water pipes to a number of destitutes in the village.
Moatlhodi also urged the pupils to take their studies seriously as education is the gate way to a prosperous future.
