Faced with a new policy that might limit his performance as the ruling party’s operations officer, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general and parliamentary aspirant for Gaborone Central, Gomolemo Motswaledi, plans to resign from the University of Botswana (UB).
“I have been seriously thinking along those lines of terminating services with UB but it’s a decision that I will make at the right time if I have to,” Motswaledi revealed to Sunday Standard this week in an interview.
In November UB, will implement its new policy, which bans partisan politics on campus, prohibiting staff members’ participation in partisan politics.
Motswaledi said that, while the new UB policy on partisan politics does not disallow him from continuing working for UB, he had nevertheless made up his mind to quit UB because, in his own judgment, the policy pronounces some restrictions that may not allow him to openly serve in the BDP’s ‘demanding position of secretary general’.
“Being secretary general, one is at the centre of all activities and operations of the party, and that requires one to not only be full time but to have the flexibility to be adequately responsive to the call of political duty so that the party always stays afloat,” he said.
Motswaledi, who is pitted against incumbent MP, Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), and the Botswana National Front (BNF)’s, Kagiso Thutlwe, said he was confident that he is going to win the Gaborone Central constituency.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the secretary generalship would be a very good partner with the Gaborone Central duties, “he stated.
Motswaledi’s intention to quit UB some time next week is seen in some quarters as a strategy by the Kedikilwe/Kwelagobe faction to push President, Ian Khama, to include him on the list of specially elected MPs if he should lose.
Motswaledi has dismissed these reports arguing that he is not banking on being specially elected.
“My hopes are that I win. It will be the best that will happen to the people of Gaborone Central, the BDP and the nation at large,” he stated.
“If that does not happen, life is full of options that will still provide the flexibility to allow me to effectively serve as secretary general,” he said.
“If that does not happen life is full of options that will still provide the flexibility to allow me to effectively serve as Secretary General,”he said as a parting note.Motswaledi who is aged 39 has worked for 10 years as an employee of UB.Currently Motswaledi serves as an executive assistant.
