Autlwetse ditches BMD

Things are not going well for Botswana Movement for Democracy as the political centre can no longer as it continues to lose parliamentary candidates.

Gaborone Central parliamentary candidate Thabo Autlwetse has allegedly ditched the party and will not contest the 2019 General Elections.

Sources close to the former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) National Youth Executive Committee Secretary General have revealed that he made the decision after he realized that the bickering within BMD and Umbrella for Democratic Change will never end.

In an interview with this publication, Autlwetse confirmed that he has withdrawn his candidature for the Gaborone Central and has informed the BMD.

“I wrote them a letter three months ago informing them about my decision to withdraw as their parliamentary candidate,” he confirmed.

He said that after pondering about his future he realized that it won’t be possible to contest in Gaborone as he is based in Kasane and was going to be costly for him to travel between the two places.

Though he was once involved in the Gaborone Central constituency holding the position of ward secretary under the BDP,    Autlwetse said that  the political environment is not conducive for him to contest for a political office.

He was once the regional vice chairperson for the North West region that includes Maun West, Chobe Okavango and Ngami.

Autlwetse who is a businessman said that he wants to focus on expanding his business which is based in Kasane.

On his next political move, the Serowe born politician said that he has retraced his steps back to the BDP and already applied for membership.

“I am waiting for their response and have realized that my problem at the BDP was the past administration and I have cordial relationship with President Mokgweetsi Masisi” he said.

Autlwetse was slapped with two year suspension in 2017 by the then party President Ian Khama for misconduct and bringing the party into disrepute.

Last year together with another suspended BDP NYEC leader Bruce Nkgakile joined the BMD and were allocated the constituencies of Gaborone Central and Mogoditshane respectively.

Nkgakile has since left the BMD and joined the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and will be their parliamentary candidate for Mogoditshane.

Efforts to get comment from BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole if they have found replacement for both Autlwetse and Nkgakile were futile as he didn’t answer his phone nor respond to the short message sent to him.