Balopi chickens out
● Delays resignation ● BDP leadership want Madigele to assume responsibility until congress ● Magang still eyeing the SG post
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary-general, Mpho Balopi has told the party caucus that he will not be defending his position again at the party’s upcoming congress. The BDP is scheduled to hold its congress in July this year.
The relationship between two powerful BDP stalwarts, President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his former Cabinet member and secretary-general Balopi, has broken down irretrievably.
“It is true, I won’t be contesting. But I am not in a position to discuss this further. I will when it is appropriate to do so,” said Balopi on Tuesday in an interview.
Last year, Balopi resigned from his ministerial position and was allegedly asked to also resign from the secretary-general post as well but he decided to delay handing his resignation as anticipated.
However, insiders have informed Mmegi that if push comes to shove, Balopi might resign from his parliamentary post because he feels that party members, especially at the leadership level, are pushing him out.
The insiders revealed that the party leadership do not trust Balopi anymore and that is why some decisions are taken without his involvement.
“He is being associated with some members of Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). As such, Sub-committees were chosen without his input while he is the one who is supposed to work with them closely. A lot of things are happening in the BDP,” the insiders said.
When questioned if it is true that Balopi will not be contesting because of the fall-out with Masisi, BDP spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse denied the claim.
“His reasons seem more personal than political but obviously, he does not have to divulge them to us. Balopi has served the BDP tirelessly and selflessly. He is the second longest SG of the BDP, so he might be thinking that he has done his part. We respect that,” said Kentse.
Late last year, Vice President and party chairperson, Slumber Tsogwane and a duo of party elders had reportedly met with Balopi to request him to step down. In another development, some BDP councillors who support Balopi were suspended on charges of tarnishing the good name of the party but were acquitted in December last year.
It is not yet clear as to who will replace Balopi if he were to step down. However, speculation is rife on social media that the party leadership want to replace him with former Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Madigele.
On the other hand, Phakalane businessman, Lesang Magang has expressed interest in contesting for the BDP secretary-general position during the party’s congress. Masisi is said to have “made it clear to the Vice President that he cannot work well with Balopi as SG and he requested that he steps down so that someone could take the position until the party congress and to choose a preferred candidate”.
Mmegi has learnt that Magang can only contest if the secretary-general position does not require someone to be an employee at Tsholetsa House.
The relationship between the President and the party secretary-general turned sour since 2020 when Balopi was accused of being close to former president Ian Khama and also leaking BDP’s confidential information. By then, according to a source close to the developments, the BDP secretary-general had agreed that he would resign from the position and had asked Masisi to think about it promising that he would not take long.
“The President has even informed the BDP central committee members on what is going on. Balopi was supposed to have resigned already, but it is not clear why he is taking long. Even some members of the Council of Elders are aware of the issue.
The truth behind all these issues is that Balopi sometimes does not honour what the President says and again there is no longer trust between them. Politics is about trust, once it is gone then people have to part ways,” the source said.
It is understood that Balopi took the decision after consulting his family and party structures, which he has, a strong relationship with. The consultation started last year until this year when he took a resolution.