In a dramatic turn of events, Ghanzi South MP Motsamai Motsamai could be the latest to join the race for Botswana National Front (BNF) presidency if developments on the ground are anything to go by.
The Patriot on Sunday has learnt that the Ghanzi MP is being lobbied by both Ghanzi South and North BNF regions to contest for BNF presidency facing off against incumbent Duma Boko and Dr Prince Dibeela.
According to reliable sources, the BNF Youth League lobby team associated to presidential aspirant and Councillor for D’Kar Xukuri Xukuri is pursuing Motsamai with other structures.
The sources revealed that Motsamai is also pursued by some members of the BNF Veterans League who believe that he has the ability to wrestle BNF from Boko as they want his ouster.
“With the BNF facing its current problems, the BNF structures across Ghanzi and Kgalagadi regions believe that Motsamai can redeem and lead it to its birth. Motsamai has been in the BNF for his entire life. He is the right candidate to restore BNF,” said a highly placed source in Ghanzi.
In an interview Xukuri, who is also BNF Ghanzi region Secretary, said he is not aware of a lobby group within BNF hunting Motsamai to join the race for BNF presidency linked to his lobby team.
Xukuri said his ambition is to revive the spirit of unity amongst BNF members in all corners of the country, insisting that BNF of recent has lost its moral principles of unity.
“I am contesting for the BNFYL presidency under team unity. We have a good relationship with Motsamai in the region. I cannot confirm or deny whether he could be interested in joining the race for presidency. He commands respect within the party because of his devotion to BNF,” he said.
Councillor Xukuri went on to say that he has high respect for the current BNF leadership and NEC.
Motsamai speaks
Reached for comment on Friday, outspoken Motsamai said he was not interested to lead the BNF at the moment and that he is not aware of any lobby group inside the BNF that is mobilising him to join contest for the presidency, adding that he remains a loyal member of BNF without any position.
“This rising rumours are just news to me. I have never met any comrades who pursue me to join race for headship. As I speak I am in Ghanzi and there is nothing I know,” he said late Friday seemingly cagey with details.
Political analyst Lesole Machacha said Motsamai is a political heavyweight who can pose a huge threat to Boko based on his experience inside BNF politics, adding that it is an interesting period for BNF.
Machacha said Motsamai has commanded a huge following and respect in the BNF from as far as back during his tenure as council hence veterans league could be right on him.
‘‘As BNF is going on downward spiral, the party will need a leader of Motsamai’s ilk to revive it. He depicts the real beliefs and the leadership qualities of former BNF leaders such as the late Dr Kenneth Koma, Maitshwarelo Dabutha and Paul Rantao,” said Machacha.
Motsamai is known to be one of the staunchest supporters of BNF and UDC president Duma Boko.
During his tenure as the president of BNF Youth League, Motsamai dropped a bombshell when he endorsed Boko for the BNF presidency in 2010 during BNF youth league congress at Kanye.
This was a time when BNF was in serious leadership transition turmoil as some within the party were against Boko contesting for the elections questioning his membership validity.
But, Boko despite all odds conquered on and won the highly contested elections at Mochudi.
BNF Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa last Friday said every comrade within the BNF who is a party member in good standing is free to contest for any position but said Gabriel Kanjabanga – a prominent private attorney – was barred.