The ruling Botswana Democratic Party is still waiting for P1 million that had been promised by South African billionaire, Patrice Motsepe.
Late last year, ahead of the October General Elections Motsepe, a mining magnate was a guest of honour at a glittering fund raising dinner hosted by Botswana Democratic Party.
It was part of the BDP fundraising campaign.
Other than the close to a million pula raised through ticket sales Motsepe had privately pledged P1 million to the BDP top brass.
BDP top officials have recently come out to say the party spent a lot of money during the campaign. As a result, the party had to restructure. Some suppliers have also been dogging the party for services rendered.
Additionally, information coming out indicates that Motsepe’s money was not entirely without strings attached.
A source close to the BDP said in return for his P1 million, Motsepe had pushed a hard bargain on behalf of his cousin, Kgosi Kgafela II of Bakgatla who is currently exiled in South Africa.
Botswana Government considers Kgosi Kgafela to be a fugitive.
Among other things Motsepe wanted Botswana government to intervene on behalf of Kgafela who is facing criminal charges before a Magistrate in Gaborone.
He wanted an undertaking that Kgafela’s charges would be dropped.
But to his credit, President Ian Khama had earlier led a high powered BDP delegation to meet Motsepe declined to make any promises on behalf of Botswana Government saying the matter was purely for the courts to decide.
As it is Kgafela is still in South Africa and Motsepe has still not yet paid his P1m pledge.
If Motsepe does not pay, it will not be the first time that the BDP is promised a lot of money in donations only for it not to come.
At a BDP Congress in Molepolole some years ago, Robert Masitara, then a flamboyant philanthropist pledged P500 000.
While Masitara never honoured his pledge he subsequently went on to win a seat in the party Central Committee and ultimately became a Member of Parliament.
