With just over six weeks before the 2019 general elections, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has toned down on growing calls to punish controversial Francistown West legislator, Ignatious Moswaane.
Moswaane has been facing the wrath of the party’s disciplinary organ and possible suspension from the party, after his launch was suspended at the 11th hour which fuelled speculation that he infuriated the party leadership with the way he handled the 100 kilometer Masama Water pipeline. Moswaane publicly accused the Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Kefentse Mzwinila of misleading the nation regarding the project. The soft spoken Mzwinila wrote to the party pleading that disciplinary proceedings be taken against Moswaane.
Addressing member of the press on Tuesday afternoon party Secretary General Mpho Balopi said Moswaane remains the BDP parliamentary candidate for Francistown West and nothing has changed. “When someone appears before the disciplinary committee it doesn’t mean that they will be suspended or expelled from the party but they can simply be advised,” said Balopi refusing to be drawn if action was taken against the maverick Moswaane.
Moswaane is not new to controversy and suspension as he was suspended and recalled as a council candidate for Monarch South in 2009. He went on to contest as independent candidate and won the ward by 617 votes to relegate the man who beat him in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Baboni Mosalagae to a distant second with 390 votes.
There have been allegations that some parliamentary candidates who are aligned to former President Ian Khama might jump ship on the day of the registration of candidates but Balopi rebutted that. “Remember that our candidates signed an affidavit ahead of the primary elections and that binds them to that agreement,” he said.
Balopi said that currently they don’t have any parliamentary and council vacancies as they managed to fill those created by candidates who jumped ship.
Vulgarities
Of recent there has been an outcry from the public about the use of vulgar languages at political rallies which led to some organizations calling on some restraint. Balopi revealed that the BDP Central Committee has taken a resolution that no vulgar language will be allowed at their political rallies.