BPP retains Molapise as president

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday May 28, 2013 00:00

Molapise was expected to retire at the one day elective conference over the weekend but was reportedly forced to renege on his decision by some party members who believe that the 68-year-old still has more to offer.Molapise contested the elections against businessman Lindelwa Maripe, the son of the BPP co-founder and president, the late Dr Knight Maripe.Molapise defeated Maripe by 97 votes to 14. 

Maripe also tried his luck in the vice presidency position against incumbent Kumbulani William and lost. William attracted 70 votes at the lowly attended conference while Maripe managed 36.The position of national chairman went to Richard Gudu who was unchallenged.  Secretary-general Shatiso Tambula as well as her deputy Michael Muzola were also unchallenged. Positions of treasurer, information and publicity secretary as well as administration secretary were also uncontested. 

The positions were filled by Elias Magwamba, Thabani Peter and Thomas Zibisani respectively.  Meanwhile, the BPP resolved at its weekend meet that it will push for the government to sack the Minister of Agriculture (MoA) Christiaan De Graaff saying the minister is responsible for the collapse of the beef industry in the country.  The party said under his tenure, De Graaff has failed to combat Foot and Mouth Disease which has for some years terrorised farmers in Zone 6.

The zone is made up of areas such as Matsiloje, Matshelagabedi and Matopi.'We will start to use the media and other public forums to advocate for the minister to be sacked but if the government does not act we will petition relevant government heads on the issue,' party spokesperson Peter said yesterday.The BPP has resolved to engage in various activities to encourage trade unions to vote for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in 2014.

BPP together with the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and the Botswana National Front (BNF) have partnered to form the UDC.The BPP believes that the UDC carries the interests of the masses, including government workers.This is not the first time Molapise reneges on his plan to retire from the presidency of the BPP.  In 2010, he emerged out of retirement to assume the party presidency following the resignation of the then president Bernard Balikani who has since joined the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).