When I left the BDP, I found myself in the same situation with Quentin Davies when he quit the Conservative Party to join the Labour Party in 2007 and he had this to say, “The Conservative party appears to me to have ceased┬á collectively to believe in anything,┬á or to stand for anything”.
These words echoed the same sentiments I had about the BDP at the time I left and it looks like the worst is yet to come. In his inaugural speech in April 2008, President Ian Khama Seretse Khama announced his arrival at the top office of the land by declaring unequivocally that he is a democrat. As he laid down a new roadmap, the 4D’s (looks like discarded nowadays) he promised to adhere to democratic ideals and principles in his leadership style.
The nation at large was exhilarated by the speech and the new regime was met with a lot of goodwill. The BDP 2009 manifesto was ushered with promises of accelerated implementation of all the vision pillars.  Under the pillar of an open, democratic and accountable nation the BDP proclaimed that it believes in and shall hold democracy steadfastly, not just as a method of electing the government but as a way of life. The manifesto prescribed that the BDP will defend and deepen all the pillars of our democracy and allow and promote open debate.
For those of us who were in BDP then there was renewed energy. We were excited and ready to conquer the opposition, and then there was the infamous Kanye congress which started casting aspersions on the true democratic credentials of the new leadership. That was followed by the Gomolemo Motswaledi saga and it was becoming obvious that the BDP was shaping out of its character. There was latent hostility in the party and many party faithful started adopting the mentality of ‘go tla tweng, go tla siama.’
Even though the party won the 2009 elections, albeit with a little increased margin of the popular vote, it still did not match the goodwill that heralded the new administration. And then it suffered the first visible split. The BDP election manifesto promises were put to a test by the labour movement over salary increment dispute that culminated in industrial action.
Whereas the BDP had promised to continue to nurture the relationships among all stakeholders in the labour sector, ensure the resolution of labour disputes through dialogue and not confrontation and continue to comply with our obligations under ILO conventions, I strongly believe that the handling of the strike was in contrast to these pledges. What was even embarrassing and glaring was the BDP action to overturn a decision by parliament on the issue of teachers and other cadres being declared essential services, undermining the independence of parliament and the principle of separation of powers.
As much as the BDP preaches the separation of powers as a central attribute of our democracy, they must know that one writer once said “of all the parts of wisdom the practice is the best”. I had thought with all these unprecedented issues bedevilling the BDP the Mahalapye congress would pause and reflect, to my dismay by acclamation without the usual interrogation and debate of national issues which had been the norm at BDP congresses the executive was given thumbs up. I sincerely thought maybe the new central committee would give new guidance but with all due respect it was obvious that it lacked talent and instead of tackling issues it presented not only obedience but servility.
┬áI had strongly believed that the ushering of the 4 D’s in Khama’s inaugural speech and the promises that the BDP made in the manifesto would be the bedrock of government agenda. I had thought that the manifesto provided a sense of mission to improve the lives of our people. It now turns out that these were just PR agenda.┬á After Mahalapye congress circumstances did not seem auspicious to me. As a democrat I could no longer defend the BDP and I decided it was time to leave. I realized most people in the BDP were not true democrats but ke madomkrag fela, bo-domi ke swa le yone, not people who were attracted to the BDP by its democratic characteristics.┬á
After I left there was no stoppage to the calamitous assault on the BDP democratic credentials. The refusal of the BDP to allow Hon Dumelang Saleshando to present a declaration of assets bill, the repealing of the broadcasting act and the enacting into law the communications regulatory authority bill, which gives the BDP unfettered use of radio and television under the pretence that they are state media as opposed to public media, the shooting down of the freedom of information bill are cases in point.   Now here comes absolute madness.
The Leader of the Opposition (LOO) in his demonstration of insightful leadership and accountability decided to address kgotla meetings around the country. After just one meeting the BDP went crazy and decided to bar such gatherings. I should caution Jeff Ramsay to desist from undermining our intelligence by saying the order did not come from Office of the President. Where else did it come from, is he suggesting the District Commissioner acted unilaterally and arbitrarily in cancelling the Ramotswa meeting that was to be addressed by Leader of Opposition? This is a clear sign of intolerance for divergent views and constructive advice.
What the pretentious, insecure and intransigent BDP fears in these kgotla meetings is only known to them.  It is preposterous for the BDP to imagine that the Leader of Opposition should seek their permission to address kgotla meetings. The threat to withdraw the official vehicle provided for the use by LOO just shows the arrogance of this regime. How do they account for the use of government vehicles by ministers when they address kgotla meetings in their constituencies even though they draw constituency allowances just like ordinary MPs? Is this how shallow this government understands democracy? I am glad I left. 
Democracy should not be about political minorities being oppressed by the tyranny of the majority but should be about allowing people to participate equally. A basic feature of democracy is for the provision of opportunity for various views to be heard. Why should the nation be denied the views of the opposition as long as they are provided constructively without transgressing the constitution or being disloyal to the nation? The main function of the Leader of Opposition is not merely to oppose, but for the good of the nation, to take lead in scrutinizing and exercising oversight of the operations of the executive.
Surely greater burden rests on the opposition than on government backbench (who are most of the time called upon to tow the party line) in regard to such scrutiny and oversight.
The BDP want to turn this country into a cult where everyone conforms. They are dangerously accustomed to a diet of praise and propaganda. I hope Dikgosi will see that the BDP is behaving like a bull in a china shop and grant the Leader of Opposition permission to address kgotla meetings ÔÇô with or without government vehicle.
I urge Honourable Dumelang Saleshando to soldier on in executing his mandate. The nation deserves to know, what happened to an informed and educated nation? How far is the Vision 2016 Council when the executive is violating all that it stands for? How come we never hear their voice? Is it for the fear of biting the hand that feeds you? It is unfortunate that it is like that with most oversight institutions in this country and the executive just cannot fathom why the opposition is not conforming.  Is September not supposed to be the month of the Vision?
When I left the BDP I was accused of being a coward and not staying to correct things. I think people are starting to see that the BDP is irredeemable. It cannot be reformed. I simply did not want to take part in the destruction of everything that has been achieved in the past. I doubt if there is a single democrat left at the BDP. If there is, can we hear that voice of reason! Like I said ‘go setse madomkrag fela.’┬á I would like to conclude by encouraging Honourable Dumelang Saleshando not to be intimidated by the BDP bullying tactics and the presumptuous behavior of the executive. In the words of Quentin Davies, I have found in Hon Saleshando a “leader I have always┬ágreatly admired, who I believe is entirely straightforward, who has a towering record, and a clear vision for the future of our country which I fully share”.
*Rammidi is Member of Parliament for Kanye North
