Fists fly in Tswapong South

Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
Staff Writer | Monday May 13, 2013 00:00

 

Molebatsi, accompanied by some members of his faction, stormed into a late night meeting hosted by their rivals at a house in Ramokgonami, but they were beaten and had their phones confiscated, The Monitorlearns.After earlier taking a call from the Monitor, the MP later switched off his phones and would not entertain any inquiry.Molebatsi previously reported his rival to the ruling Party claiming that she had started Bulela Ditswe campaign before schedule, but those allegations were dismissed.

The Monitor learnt that the latest fracas in Tswapong South  coincided with the visit to the constituency by a BDP Task force led by chairperson Daniel Kwelagobe on Friday.The Monitor is informed that the latest feud between the two  BDP factions in Tswapong South  was top of the agenda at the meeting addressed by Kwelagobe in Ramokgonami. The meeting lasted for over two hours, and also sought to investigate the BDP's defeat in the Seleka-Tumasera  ward to the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) recently.

Information pieced together by The Monitor reveal that the MP stormed with some members of his faction into the house of Ramokgonami councillor Semela Kolo, upon learning that his rival's faction were holding a clandestine late night meeting there.

A scuffle ensued when MP Molebatsi and his team forced their way into the meeting.They were told right away that they were not wanted. A member of the Molebatsi faction started taking photos threatening to expose their rivals for holding clandestine meetings. Fists flew and cellphones were confiscated including the MP's phone.

It was around 11pm when the scuffle took place at Ramokgonami councillor's house where Molebatsi's rival's are estimated to have numbered 20, including three councillors, and a former campaign manager for Molebatsi in the constituency for the 2004 elections, Sesoa Baitshepi, who also worked in the constituency office until 2009. A Chadibe councillor also attended the late night meeting at Kolo's house, according to the host.Councillor Kolo confirmed to The Monitorthat a scuffle ensued at his house and that the MP's phone was handed over to the local Police the very same night.

The Ramokgonami councillor alleges that the MP begged to have his phone released in exchange for deleting images, but that bargain was rejected.Efforts to get a comment from Ramokgonami Police hit a snag when they referred The Monitor to Martins Drift Police for comments.

Molebatsi's rivals were diplomatic when interviewed about the incident preferring to call their late night meeting a social gathering of friends and drinks. They say it was not in any way related to Bulela Ditswe, because, according to both Sesoa, and Kolo, this is not yet time for public campaigns.When The Monitor asked Sesoa  Baitshepi to clarify his role in Tswapong South factions,  he said he is a friend of Makgatho-Malesu.