FRANCISTOWN: Fresh from his High Court victory against suspended Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Secretary General, Gomolemo Motswaledi, President Ian Khama (pictured) has reiterated that he will not tolerate indiscipline in the ruling party.He told a roaring crowd in Francistown that he will continue to discipline those who choose to work against the party and put an end to factions. “When I am still the president of the party, we have to work together or if I am not doing something right, you can simply come to me but if you choose to take your president to court, then there is a problem,” he said.
He stated that the BDP is faced with a problem of people who did not want to support him as the party president despite the agreement that was made in Kanye. “The resolution was made in Kanye that people should support the party leader. I am going to discipline those who do not want to do things the right way just like a parent disciplines their children,” he warned.
He attacked BDP members who have decided to contest elections as independent candidates (mekoko) saying that they are like headless chickens. He said that they lack maturity and that is why they cannot handle losing primary elections. “As soon as they lose, they forget that they are BDP members and they take it personal and start revenging,” he said.
He discouraged voting for independent candidates saying they are hungry for power. He said the candidates will not be allowed back to the BDP even if they win elections because of a new party policy. “If you are an independent candidate, you will not be able to come back to the BDP because we have agreed that people who leave the party in such a manner can only come back in five years,” he said.
He stated that the independent candidates will not be eligible to participate in the primaries for 2014 elections. He said that voters should be careful because the independents cannot do anything for them. “O tla a go thusa ka eng ka o nosi hela (How will he help you when he is just alone). He does not have a party. Even the opposition is better because it is a party. He cannot even be a minister,” he stated.
He asserted that independent candidates are fumbling all over the place and do not know what they are doing. He said that people should learn to support the party, whether they win or lose.
Mmegi Online
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