BDP finds Majaga challenger

Nata-Gweta BDP Youth Wing Chairman confident

Seitiso to take on Majaga in Bulela Ditswe

BDP is not banking on Majaga for 2024

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is considering having a new candidate -Youth chairman Mompati Seitiso, for the upcoming 2024 general elections in the Nata-Gweta constituency, The Patriot on Sunday has learnt.

Seitiso is expected to run against incumbent MP Polson Majaga in the BDP 2023 primaries. Information gathered shows that the BDP leadership is preparing for a new dawn in Nata-Gweta as Majaga seems to have fallen out of favour with the party leadership.

In an interview, Seitiso who is the son of Kgosi Rabagamang Rancholo of Nata, confirmed that he will be contesting the BDP primaries although the BDP is yet to issue a writ for the campaigns. He said he will be ready for Bulelwa Ditswe,  denying that he has already been endorsed by the party leadership. “The tradition is that when it comes to the BDP leadership including the president Mokgweetsi Masisi is that every BDP member in good standing who want to contest for the primaries is at liberty to do so. It is not true that the BDP top leadership supports me to contest,” he  denied.

Also, some Nata-Gweta constituency leadership are alleged to have approached Seitiso  to run against Majaga. Being the son of the village chief, Seitiso is touted to command huge support to ouster veteran Majaga.

Attempts to get comment from Majaga proved futile as his mobile phone was off at press time.

Sources close to developments say Majaga faces a hostile ouster from the constituency by BDP. Things have not been going well for the outspoken two terms Nata-Gweta legislator when he was suspended from the ruling party last year when he faced serious allegations of defilement.

According to the BDP, Majaga was suspended for 60 days to accord him time to clear his name in the wake of the charges levelled against him but court in March this year cleared him of the charges. Nata Principal Magistrate, Keabetswe Majuta, discharged and acquitted MP Majaga who was accused of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of an underage girl at Malelejwe Settlement.

At a time, Lawrence Ookeditse who is now with Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) was preferred by President Mokgweetsi Masisi and BDP chairman Slumber Tsogwane to take over from Majaga.

However, the rubble rouser politician, Ookeditse defected to BDP offspring, BPF early this year. Moreover, those closer to incumbent MP Majaga explained that he may quit politics in future.

The MP is said to be worried by how the BDP top leadership plotted in several times to have him dethroned from the constituency in a favor of Ookeditse before and currently for Seitiso. “Majaga is not pleased by the motives by some senior party leaders who plot his ouster behind closed doors. At some point, he fell out with vice president Tsogwane who connived a strategic meeting with BDP Nata-Gweta committee members last year to discuss his exit plan in favor of Ookeditse at a time. He is weighing options whether to contest for elections or not,” said source.

Also, Majaga whilst he was serving his BDP suspension was being linked with a defection to the BPF. This was before his arch rival Ookeditse, who is now a BPF spokesperson, joined the party.

Nata-Gweta potential

Meanwhile, Seitiso has regretted Nata-Gweta constituency is underdeveloped given the riches it possess in terms of natural resources like underground water and the tourism advantage too. He said with a capable visionary leader, the constituency should not be a developments hub now.

“There is potential for infrastructure development in the constituency. Nata-Gweta through Sua Town was declared a special economic zone and we should be having investors all over the world coming but it is not the case. We have lot of destitute people and they need care,” added Seitiso, adding that it takes an MP to invite investors to tap into rich water to develop infrastructure.

In his proposals to Parliament, Majaga advocated for developments in floods prone Nata-Gweta. Amongst other things, he appealed the government to declare Nata- Gweta as a disaster area. In 2018, Parliament approved a motion by Majaga to declare the constituency a disaster area as he said that the area had been vulnerable to floods for a long time, thus affecting the constituents.