BNF peace deal collapses in Selebi-Phikwe East

Onalenna Kelebeile | Thursday September 25, 2014 17:36

On Monday the party’s publicity secretary, Moeti Mohwasa acknowledged that there had been differences within the party and there was no proper plan in place to reconcile the primary elections losers and winners after the selection process.

“We engaged them, particularly Moruti to apologise so that we approached the general elections as a united force,” he said.

He urged party members to be careful on how they talk to others and how to deal with their differences within the party.

Mohwasa who was accompanied by the UDC parliamentary candidate for Selebi-Phikwe East Dimpho Mashaba further added that they would also engage elders within the party to talk the issues out and iron out any differences ahead of the general elections.

“We are thankful that Moruti agreed to our engagement with him.  He is still our member and he demonstrated commitment to see BNF growing,” he said.

Mohwasa was optimistic that the planned launch for Moruti by anti-UDC/BNF members on Saturday will not go ahead after the engagement they had.

But Moruti disagrees with Mohwasa’s take and stressed that his launch is ongoing.

“I have the right and freedom to grant audience to anybody who wants to meet me, but the fact of the matter is that I did not agree with them. 

I only demanded an apology on the statements that their members made about me and the issue of primary elections was never part of the engagement,” he said.

He said the only agreement was for the party to address its members on the issue and apologise to him.  Moruti added that the BNF approach towards him after primary elections proved that they do not need him hence he decided to contest as an independent candidate.

He stressed that his launch is going ahead and that he would be going for general elections nominations on Thursday.

“My stand is that I do not support the UDC. I am proving that BNF can still exist and thrive on its own,” he said.

The disgruntled BNF members have decided to go independent in the October 24 general elections and among them are antagonists of the party’s decision to join the UDC coalition.  The independents recently held a political rally in Selebi-Phikwe and talked about the launch that is pencilled for next Saturday in the Copper/Nickel mining town.  Lemogang Ntime, Gabriel Kanjabanga and Michael Mzwinila are expected to grace the launch.