Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) campaign manager for Sekoma council ward by election Reggie Reatile said at the weekend that come 2019 the opposition will only have three Members of Parliament (MPs).
Speaking at a rally in Sekoma village in Ngwaketse West, Reatile said opposition politicians who deserve to be in Parliament in 2019 are Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi, former Lobatse MP Nehemiah Modubule and former Gaborone Central Dumelang Saleshando.
The by-election for the ward which will be held on March 5 was necessitated by the death of councillor Makalare Ngomme of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
According to Reatile, one could be forgiven to assume that BDP and Francistown West MP Ignatius Moswaane is the leader of opposition in Parliament because he is one of the most vocal MPs in Parliament.
“In 2019, the opposition deserve only three MPs in Parliament. Voters should ensure that they bring back Mmolotsi, Modubule and Saleshando. Currently we have an opposition that is unable to articulate and address issues. The voice of opposition in Parliament is as good as dead because we have clowns,” he said.
Reatile is confident that the BDP is going to win the Sekoma council ward by election on 5th March 2019. The former MP for Jwaneng/Mabutsane said his loss in the 2014 general elections was not as a result of opposition but protests from BDP voters.
“The current MP, Shawn Nthaile has failed to deliver. He is just in Parliament to add numbers. He is a man who doesn’t have the interests of his constituents at heart. For instance, he has employed some foreigners to work in his businesses instead of locals,” said Reatile.
He said the BDP is working on a plan that will see ruling party winning a landslide victory in 2019.
Reatile warned some civil servants whom he accused of dabbling in politics to refrain from what he called divided loyalty.
“We are aware that there are some civil servants who are poking their noses where they shouldn’t. We are ready to deal with them; if you are a civil servant you should do what you were employed to do, if you are interested in politics, you must resign and join politics,” he said.
For his part, the Vice Chairman of Jwaneng Mabutsane constituency, Jacob Rabanna said it was difficult to fathom the policies of opposition parties. He warned the residents of Sekoma and surrounding settlements not to vote for the opposition candidate saying they will live to regret the day they voted for an opposition candidate in their area.
“The opposition is against the distribution of blankets by the President and I have fear that should you vote for an opposition candidate, he would deny you the chance to benefit from the blankets that the President has given to other citizens. So I urge you vote wisely,” said Rabanna.
The BDP candidate for the council ward, Keboetsweng Lebotso promised residents developments in their village should they vote for him. He likened his opponent to false pastors that have been prophesized decades ago in the Bible.
“You should be on the lookout for such people, I mean false prophets; they are there in our mist especially in the opposition. So I urge you vote for me so that and witness some positive changes in your loves in the near future,” said Lebotso.