allAfrica.com: Botswana: BNF Councillors 'Sick And Tired' of Moupo (Page 1 of 1)

While opposition leader and Botswana National Front (BNF) president, Otsweletse Moupo is still licking his wounds after losing primary elections as Gaborone West North MP, his party councillors from Central District have joined critics who demand that he resigns the party presidency.

The three councillors also contend that the embattled Moupo must reinstate the sacked Mosolotshane ward councillor, Mogalakwe Mogalakwe with immediate effect. The councillors who want Moupo out are Thomas Kgethenyane of Moreomaoto, Balopi Chilume of Orapa and Malatswai's Keitireng Kebosenke.

Leading the campaign, Kgethenyane said they are sick and tired of Moupo's blunders and they found it helpful to go public about their feelings. "Since the Molepolole congress last year, we have been hiding this but it's high time the public knew the truth. Moupo is a failure," said Kgethenyane, who threatened to spill more beans if Moupo does not heed their call.

In an interview yesterday, the councillors said, unlike Mogalakwe, who was 'radical', other concerned councillors decided to remain mum but the issue has since got to them.

"Wherever we hold rallies with our electorates, we are always forced to defend the party image instead of promoting party policies, which is our mandate. When we lobby members to join the party, we fail because of his blunders. We are sick and tired of him and he must go," charged the disturbed Moreomaoto councillor, adding that everywhere they go, the subject is Moupo. He lamented that this does not build the party but divides it. He attacked his party leader saying his grave errors turn big positives to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which continues to sweep constituencies. He believes Moupo has been bribed by BDP to destabilise BNF, hence his resistance against quitting. The councillor claimed that a majority of other BNF representatives in Central are supporting the mission to pressurise the opposition leader to resign. He blamed Moupo for the instability that dogs the party lately. He said if Moupo does not excuse himself, they will force him to quit, but he did not say how. According to Kgethenyane, BNF councillors in Selebi-Phikwe and Maun are willing to join the campaign to oust the BNF president. He called on the party authorities to call a conference to vote in a new leader. He said even if the anti-Moupo councillors were expelled from the party for publicly expressing their views, they would find new homes somewhere. He further asserted that they have been barred from expressing their feelings in other forums, but now they felt right to use the media since Moupo's resignation is long overdue. Unlike the late charismatic Kenneth Koma, Kgethenyane said, Moupo has never deserved to be the BNF president. Kgethenyane, who disclosed that he has always supported former vice president, Kathleen Letshabo, pointed out that it is not helpful to continue supporting a leader of Moupo's calibre.

He added that they have communicated their concerns to party publicity secretary, Moeti Mohwasa, but the man would not budge. The councillor also accused Mohwasa saying he unnecessarily continues to defend Moupo. Though he would not divulge much information when reached, Chilume confirmed that they would meet soon to discuss the issue of failing leadership.

"I know the issue but I do not want to fall in the same trap of being accused of destabilising the party.

"We were supposed to meet with Kgethenyane but I do not know why he gave you that information before we resolve the way forward. Call me tomorrow and I will give you everything," said the cagey councillor.

Without going into detail, he said as Central District councillors, they are concerned about BNF's future.

Mohwasa, who was reluctant to comment, denied receiving any complaint from any councillor. He dispelled accusations that he was in defence of the BNF leader. "I defend the organisation, not an individual," he said.

He conceded that it was worrying to hear party issues from the media before reaching the relevant party office. The BNF publicity secretary fired complained that the councillors did not follow the right channels as the BNF constitution demands.

The man at the centre of controversy, Moupo, could not be reached as his mobile phone was off.

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