The Botswana National Front Spokesman has announced that he will not be available to contest for any parliamentary constituency in the coming General Elections due in 2014.
During the 2009 elections, Moeti Mohwasa had represented BNF in Selibe Phikwe West where he lost against Gil Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party. Popular expectation was that he would give another shot since Saleshando has announced that he is retiring from active politics in 2014.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mohwasa said he wants to channel all his energy and time towards building the BNF Publicity and Information Department.
He said it is also worth noting that he has been given the added responsibility of manning the information wing of the new party – Umbrella for Democratic Change ÔÇô which comprises of BNF, Botswana peoples Party and Botswana Movement for Democracy.
He said a decision not to stand has not been an easy one.
“I am now heavily involved in the Central Committee of the BNF. A resolution was passed in Mahalapye that I should also sit on the Executive meetings. What this means is that the BNF Publicity Department has identified some projects which I will be driving. Publicity work is national in nature and I cannot be effective if I also have to be on a campaign trail for a parliamentary constituency,” he said.
He reckons if Selibe Phikwe was anywhere closer to Gaborone, he could consider the temptation to stand. But with the distance between the two places, campaigning would become a nightmare.
Mohwasa is confident that BNF or any of their alliance members will be able to identify a replacement.
“The depth of talent┬áavailable means that a replacement will not be an issue. I want to emphasise that this was not an easy decision. I have a huge attachment to Selibe Phikwe. I have been a part of that constituency since 1971. I don’t have all the answers, but I know what the problems are that the people in that constituency face,” said.
He said given the gravity of the problems that Selibe Phikwe faces,┬áit would not be wise to have an “absentee Member of Parliament”.
“Selibe Phikwe requires a Member of Parliament who is always there.”
He said the situation is made worse by a lack of commitment on the part of government to save the town from decline, adding that whatever initiatives are in place have been half-hearted.
“Recent statistics indicate that the population has been dropping. The second university was supposed to go there but government had other plans. We are talking about a disappearing town and to stop the decline you need a robust Member of Parliament,” said Mohwasa.
