Instability rocks BMD in Phikwe
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday July 13, 2016 15:43
Mashaba once resigned last year and retraced his steps within two days. But this time he said there is no way back as he has decided to join Botswana Congress Party (BCP). It is understood many are yet to follow Mashaba out of the BMD from what insiders say is a sign of instability that has rocked the party in the Selebi Phikwe East constituency.
“I have resigned from BMD not UDC and I leave the movement with no regrets or bitterness towards anyone. I owe my political experience and abilities to the BMD and remain indebted to them,” he added.
He said when he ventured into politics he was driven by the desire to see change and for a system that promotes a fair distribution of wealth, participatory democracy, open opportunities for all and high performance culture. “I believe I can effectively advocate for all these when I am with BCP, the party that subscribes to third way social democratic principles that are in line with what I stand for,” he added.
He explained that what triggered his initial resignation is different from the current resignation.
UDC interim chairman in the constituency Timothy Sejankabo confirmed Mashaba’s move. “It is a loss to BMD but I am happy that he still remains within the opposition circle because he is heading to BCP. He may have had his weaknesses but he had more strengths. He was a good team player,” he said.
Sejankabo confirmed that their party (BMD) is unstable and seriously divided in the constituency especially after they welcomed some people into their folds. He said they were at some point forced to seek the intervention of the regional chairman Joseph Dintwa and the party secretary general Gilbert Mangole.
He explained that the divisions started immediately after the former parliamentary independent candidate in the constituency Oarabile Tshenyego joined the party. He said Tshenyego was elected the branch chairman, a position he never resigned from after being elected into the BMD central committee during the Gantsi congress. “These are some of the things that are causing instability within the party,” said Sejankabo. He also confirmed that some members are planning to follow Mashaba to the BCP.
He said the party is divided into youth and branch committees and said the latter snubs the former’s activities. He said the youth committee boycotted a rally addressed by Margaret Nasha and another in Botshabelo. “They later held their own activity in Botshabelo without involving the branch committee. They have even written a letter to the branch committee requesting to hold a branch congress but constitutionally the ward committee is the one that can do that. I told them to mobilise all the wards so that they can do that,” he added.
Sejankabo said they view the whole thing as a hostile takeover of the branch by the youth committee. He added that only the party leadership could bring a solution to the problems in the constituency.
In response Tshenyego said generally there are no problems within the party but the normal political issues. He viewed the whole thing as irresponsible propaganda by certain individuals. He noted that he has long relieved himself of the branch chairman seat and somebody was acting in the position. He expressed concern over lack of consultation on some party and UDC activities by the branch committee. “In fact the youth committee is more active on the ground. I and some members may be having differences but we are supportive of the noble idea of the party,” he added.
Tshenyego said for BMD to grow in the constituency, there must be strong and compact structures in place. “We need every member and we have no time to discriminate otherwise we will not survive,” he added.
Mashaba has stated that his decision is not in anyway associated to Tshenyego joining the BMD.