Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
9 October 2008
There are fears that two new factions could be emerging in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) ahead of the ruling party's next congress that will elect a new Central Committee in July 2009.
The new-fangled fissures are believed to be the spawn of the old ones that have come to characterise the BDP since the 1990s - the 'enlightened' left of centre Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe and the rightwing Merafhe-Nkate factions.
Both factions are known to have held clandestine meetings whose main purpose was to draw up lists of candidates for the Central Committee to the exclusion of their de facto vanguard who still want to hold positions on the powerful executive.
Ponatshego Kedikilwe, one of the duo that leads the 'enlightened' faction, responded with utter dismay and astonishment when contacted this week: "It is all news to me," Kedikilwe said. "I have been flying in and out of the country lately. I will have to find out what is happening on the ground. Whom did you say were on the lobby list again?"
So strong is the disaffection between the leaders of this faction, which is also known as (Ba-rata phathi) and their followers that Daniel Kwelagobe, the powerful man who became party Chairman in a game of quid pro quo between the factions last year, does not appear on the list of favoured candidates. Neither does Kedikilwe.
Information reaching Mmegi is that at the top of the 'rebels' in this faction are the party's parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central Gomolemo Motswaledi for Chairman and outspoken former BDP Executive Secretary Botsalo Ntuane for Secretary General.
Kabo Morwaeng is billed for Deputy Secretary General, while Neo Moroka is sought for as Vice Chairman, among others.
As it turns out, Moroka bestrides the factions like Shakespeare's "Colossus".
The Minister of Trade and Industry also appears at the top of the Merafhe-Nkate faction's list for the position of Chairman.
The incumbent Chairman of the Southern District Council, Kentse Rammidi, is cast as Secretary General on the list cobbled up over the Independence holiday in Mahalapye, the seat held by right of centre faction leader Mompati Merafhe (Mahalapye West).
Mmegi is reliably informed that neither he nor Jacob Nkate was present at the 'Independence' rendezvous.
Merafhe, who is also the Vice President of Botswana, is reportedly angry at this turn of events, especially that his name is not on the list.
He is understood to have made it known to both factions and Cabinet that he wants to be at the vortex of power as Chairman of the Central Committee.
As the conspiracies unravel, Moroka and Rammidi have distanced themselves from these eddies.
"In the first place, I do not even know who these are," Moroka told Mmegi yesterday.
"They have not talked to me at all. They are getting me into trouble. I do not want to associate myself with any campaign list. I do not hold secret meetings, especially for purposes of factions."
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