Former BMD NEC member rejoins BDP

Boniface Keakabetse | Friday September 1, 2017 14:28

In an interview with Mmegi Sokwe blamed infighting within the BMD as his main reason for his return to the BDP.

Sokwe said following infightings and subsequent break up of the BMD into two opposing factions he has realised that opposition politics have no future. He explained that he was recruited by the BDP top leadership to return but refused to divulge names.  He said more members are likely to return as the BDP is sorting itself.

He confirmed that he was in the faction of Sydney Pilane but denied that the Pilane faction is involved in a hatched plan to destabilise opposition politics. Sokwe is the one who on May 11 during an emergency meeting called on Ndaba Gaolathe, Wynter Mmolotsi and other BMD members to be suspended for attending the youth congress.

Gaolathe and his group were eventually suspended. However, Sokwe pointed an accusing finger at Gaolathe’s faction saying it is the one with an evil plan to destabilise the opposition. He said the Pilane faction is the only legitimate leadership of BMD.

He said:  “When the BMD problems started I decided to return to the BDP as there is no future in opposition politics.” 

Sokwe further explained that although he was part of the disgruntled BDP members who formed the BMD, he has realised that things are promising at the BDP claiming that all the problems, which existed, are being solved. Sokwe, who is revered as a grassroots organiser, expressed commitment to work for BDP in Ngami.

BDP Ngami region secretary Kabo Kurusa however stated in an interview that Sokwe is not officially a member, as he has not reapplied for membership in Ngami. “He has not yet applied for membership. We only learnt about it on Btv news when he was shown in Serowe at the BDP 55th anniversary.  We are told he has been recruited by the party top leadership but we were not involved nor knew about it.”

Sokwe however, did not confirm nor deny if he has ambitions to contest a council seat in the 2019 elections saying that will be dependent on the wishes of the BDP. He also claimed ignorance of the pending renewed hostilities between the area MP Thato Kwerepe and Jacob Nkate who is vying to challenge Kwerepe in the primaries. Sources within BDP have pointed out that Sokwe is an ally of Kwerepe and his return may be engineered to cement Kwerepe’s campaign in the BDP primaries.