Francistown: As the race for the by-election in Moselewapula ward in Francistown gains momentum, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Member of Parliament for Sefhare – Ramokgonami Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang has hailed the decision by the BCP National Executive Committee (BCP) to expel its five Members of Parliament from the party.
Gobotswang was speaking at the launch of BCP Moselewapula candidate Oagile Wairi on Sunday in Francistown.
BCP expelled its MPs, Dithapelo Keorapetse, Kenny Kapinga, Dr Never Tshabang, David Tshere and Onneetse Ramogapi during the BCP national conference held in Mahalapye on the recently accusing them of defying the party.
The BCP which is a member of the coalition movement under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has since suspended its activities from the UDC after among others, a fall out between UDC President Duma Boko and its President Saleshando who is also suspended UDC Vice President.
Boko has suspended Saleshando and BCP Secretary General Goretetse Kekgonegile from the UDC accusing them of bringing the name of the coalition movement into disrepute. The suspended duo has since challenged the suspensions in court.
“What the five MP’s did to the party is akin to toppling the government or treason. I consider it a serious misconduct. The decision to expel them was well deserved. It is good riddance,” said Dr Gobotswang.
The expelled MPs were part of the UDC caucus that dethroned BCP President Saleshando from the position of Leader of Opposition (LOO) in Parliament. Keorapetse has since been elected Leader of Opposition. Gobotswang further attacked some of the expelled MPs for failing to make logical decisions despite the fact that they are academics. He said it was embarrassing for academics like Dr Never Tshabang and Kenny Kapinga to act in the manner they did adding that they are lost souls.
“We have academics in the likes of Dr Never Tshabang and Kapinga, a whole former Deputy Police Commissioner who have failed to make logical decisions and are lost. This is embarrassing to say the least,” he said.
He said as members of the BCP they would rally behind their suspended Leader and Secretary General and give them all the support and solidarity they need.
The UDC will go to the by- election polls divided as BCP has decided to field its own candidate Wairi, while the UDC has fielded Gift Ndanyala Tebo of the BPP. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has roped in Ngwisiwa Ntogwa as its preferred candidate. The BCP has formed partnership with the Alliance for Progressives (AP) to win the upcoming by- elections.
Meanwhile AP Vice President and Member of Parliament for Francistown South Wynter Mmolotsi who was also spoke at the launch accused Boko of turning the UDC into his personal property. He said the UDC President has since declared himself the natural leader of the UDC and has defied all efforts to ensure that the UDC holds an elective congress.
He said in 2014 they were under UDC coalition and were abused by Boko who ruled the coalition with an iron fist. He pointed a blaming finger at the UDC President for being the problem in opposition cooperation. He also added that under Boko, democracy at UDC was non-existent.
“It has been 10 years and there has been no Congress at UDC. In fact, all other parties are patented in the name of their parties, BDP, BCP and AP. The UDC is patented under the name of an individual, its leader. You can go and check for yourself at the Registrar of Societies,” said Mmolotsi.
In conclusion he pleaded with the residents of Moselewapula to elect the BCP candidate Wairi to represent them in the city council as BDP has continued to fail Batswana.
The Moselewapula by-election will be held on the 30th of July 2022.
