Mystery still surrounds the real reasons behind a threat by Kentse Rammidi to resign from the ruling party only a week after he was elected to the position of Secretary General of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Information raised by Sunday Standard indicate that Rammidi reversed his decision after an intervention from the Party National Chairman, Daniel Kwelagobe, Acting Vice President PHK Kedikilwe and Treasurer, Satar Dada.
While Rammidi was not happy with the way the central committee elections went in Mahalapye, (he was against the compromise model) insiders say it was the recent BDP caucus meeting which discussed reinstating statutory instruments to declare teaching services as essential services that annoyed Rammidi almost to the point of brink.
The Kanye North Member of Parliament is under pressure from teachers in his constituency to fight in their corner and convince the BDP not to classify their profession as essential service.
But unable to get his way at a caucus meeting that was dominated by cabinet ministers, Rammidi is said to have intimated to Kwelagobe that he does not want to be a member of a sinking BDP.
He then left Gaborone for Kanye where he was to break the news of his decision to resign from the BDP.
Only spirited calls from Kwelagobe and Dada, imploring Rammidi to reconsider his position made him change his mind.
Upon hearing of Rammidi’s impending departure, President Ian Khama is said to have told his inner circle that there was nothing he could do, adding to another confidante that he found it difficult putting up with a secretary General who was always threatening.
Sunday Standard can also confirm that in his capacity as Secretary General, Rammidi has already confronted some members of the BDP executive with shocking statistics of how badly the party would fare were elections to be called tomorrow.
Rammidi’s analysis is based on results from the 2009 General elections, especially where the BDP only marginally managed to win as well as possible backlashes from the party’s 2010 split and the recent public service strike.
A number of BDP high command says only Rammidi can reverse the tide, but it is not yet clear if President Ian Khama shares that sentiment.
After the news of Rammidi’s impending resignation from the BDP leaked, opposition parties lined up courting him to join their ranks.
