Lekopanye Mooketsi
18 November 2008
The Botswana National Front (BNF) parliamentary candidate for Moshupa, John Disele has defected to the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Speaking in an interview, Disele confirmed that he resigned from the BNF on November 4. He said he left the BNF because he was disillusioned with the manner in which the party was run.
He believes that the BNF is not run properly. He said the BNF would never settle down to come up with a vision.
He said the party leadership might have had a vision but it was not filtering down to the rank and file.
Disele accused BNF leaders of capitalising on the ignorance of the people to sell themselves.
He also expressed concern that the party does not have respect for its constitution. He said when people are supposed to address constitutional issues, they start engaging in political debates.
Disele said due to its endless infighting, the BNF has contributed little to national affairs. He said the party takes most of its time engaging in internal feuds. He added that at the end of the day, the party misses the opportunity to contribute to national issues.
Disele served in the previous central committee as the secretary for economic affairs and was associated with the Kathleen Letshabo faction.
Speaking about his new political party, he said there is stability in the BDP and well laid down structures. He said the BDP has a clear vision.
Disele has also been impressed by President Ian Khama's initiatives. He said one you could see where he wants to take the country, adding that it is too early to call Khama a populist.
Disele contested the Moshupa constituency parliamentary seat for the BNF in 1999 and 2004 and lost. This year he stood unopposed as the BNF's parliamentary candidate for the constituency.
BNF spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said members of political parties come and go just like they have just welcomed a former Botswana Congress Party (BCP) central committee member, Reuben Rathedi to their party.
He described Disele's resignation as 'good riddance', adding that the party is celebrating his departure. "We won't regret his resignation and we won't miss him," he charged.
He said the people in Disele's constituency were not happy about his performance and conduct.
He accused Disele for being one of the people who have been destabilising the BNF.
He said Disele had total disregard for the party constitution. "He has done more harm than good to the party".
He said since Disele lost in the central committee elections at the Molepolole special congress, he has not been active in party activities.
Mohwasa said Disele's departure came at the right time because the party is bent on instilling discipline. "His departure would help in terms of bringing discipline and order to the party," he said.
Mohwasa asserted that Disele's departure is going to attract more members to the BNF in his constituency because people were staying away from the party due to his negative attitude.
BDP deputy executive secretary, Fidelis Molao sees things differently as he said Disele's resignation shows that people are losing confidence in the BNF and they regard the BDP as their only hope.
He said the fact that they are registering members from the BNF shows that the BDP is growing. He described Disele as a big catch who is going to add value to the BDP.
Disele is the second high profile BNF member to defect to the ruling party. Recently, Keetla Masogo, who was the BNF parliamentary candidate for Mogoditshane in 2004, also decamped to the BDP.
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