Moswaane: I want to be BPP President
Former BDP MP contests to be BPP President I brought down BPP in Ghetto, I’m the man to revive it Moswaane to face Gopolang and former BCP politicians
Former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) political stalwart, Ignatius Moswaane has finally declared his decision to contest the presidency of the Botswana Peoples’ Party (BPP) at this year’s party congress.
This is despite the fact that he only left the ruling party some months ago, and is already facing resistance from those who believe he is too new in the party to lead it. The apex BPP office will become vacant when the long-time party president, Motlatsi Molapisi retires from active politics at the congress.
Moswaane, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Francistown West, joins former Botswana Congress Party (BCP) activists Professor Philip Bulawa and Nono KgafelaMokoka, as well as Cornelius Gopolang who have already declared their availability for the top-most post.
In a letter addressed to the party president dated June 7th, informing him of his decision to contest the BPP presidency, Moswaane noted that one of the reasons he wants to occupy the apex position in the party is to promote the spirit of contestation for key positions in the party.
This is significant because the presidency of the party has never been contested since the founding of the party in 1960.
Moswaane said in an interview that his other motive for contesting the executive position in the party is to help fly the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) flag high.
“The UDC needs strong leaders from its contracting partners in order for the partners to become strong and competitive against the BDP,” said Moswaane, who believes that contestations engender participatory democracy.
“An open and democratic society such as ours must encourage competition. Such is good for the BPP,” lectured Moswaane.
Further, Moswaane wants to become president of the BPP in order to influence the publication of policy and vision documents.
“All these documents will help the party members understand just what their party stands for. The party needs a policy forum where party policies are discussed as well as reviewed if necessary,” Moswaane said.
He finds it regrettable that the BPP has neglected its founding principles of socialism and Pan-Africanism.
“This problem can be solved by the introduction of political education. The BPP had relationships with parties outside Botswana. Regrettably, this is no longer the case.
“We need to revive the relationships. Further, the party needs a website as soon as possible,” Moswaane said.
When it was put to him that some people in the BPP are not happy with his presidential ambitions only a few months after joining the party from the ruling BDP, he retorted that management is management and has nothing to do with how long a person has been a part of an organisation.
“It is basic. Besides, I know what the people of Botswana want. Above all, a leader is guided by the party constitution.
“If I brought down the BPP especially in Francistown, I have the ability to revive it in Francistown and beyond. Besides, I have the wherewithal to attract NGOs from outside to help the party,” stated Moswaane.
He added that he might not draw up a lobby list because, according to him, its rigidity tends to close out good people in the other lobby lists.
Meanwhile, former speciallyelected councillor from 2014 to 2019, Zazambi Tuelo, is also joining the BPP. “I have already made up my mind about BPP membership. What is left is for me to formalise the process by applying to the party for membership and hopefully getting my membership card. Besides, I have yet to tender my resignation to the BDP,” said Tuelo. He is currently running the Monarch Community Development Centre and Youth Development Forum Botswana. The Centre helps the youth with the drawing of business plans as well as offering business consultancy services including online registration of companies. Tuelo has worked for the centre in the past before he fell out big time with his Godfather (Moswaane). The duo has since reconciled.