Online Version

Facebook Feed

  • Killings of journalists up 50% in 2022, half targeted off duty    January 25, 2023
    Eighty-six journalists and media workers were killed around the world in 2022 – one every four days, according to UNESCO data, highlighting the grave risks and vulnerabilities that journalists continue to face in the course of their work.   […]
  • Judge Tau; please don’t stifle public scrutiny of the Court of AppealJanuary 25, 2023
    Her utterances are misplaced and must be condemned with the contempt it deserves ADAM PHETLHE The Patriot on Sunday dated 15 January 2022 carried an article titled ‘Judge Tau defends CoA Integrity’, with sub-headings “Complains of discrediting reckless statements; […]
  • Miss Botswana 2022 is the Face of KGK DiamondsJanuary 19, 2023
    Its been an exciting first week back to her MBW duties and we kick off the year with an official announcement that Our Queen is The face of KGK Diamonds. Lesego Chombo alongside Nigel Amos was the show stopper […]
  • Executives to watch in 2023January 19, 2023
    A year is often too short to demonstrate your worth, yet that’s exactly what the newly appointed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have to do to show that they deserve their enviable roles. PATRIOT BUSINESS looks at CEOs who shall […]
  • BLP TEST AP/BCP UNITY TALKSJanuary 19, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw The new entrant in the cooperation talks between Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) – Botswana Labour Party (BLP) has thrown spanner in the works by demanding that both AP and BCP yield […]
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
Saturday, January 28, 2023
17 °c
Gaborone
21 ° Tue
22 ° Wed
24 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
The Patriot On Sunday
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Maele to stand as Mokoko?

patriot by patriot
January 1, 2021
in News
240 12
0
Maele to stand as Mokoko?
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

Former Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services minister, Prince Maele, who was last week suspended by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has retired to Lerala- Maunatlala constituency where he has launched a massive campaign in a bid to retain his incumbency as the area MP.

Observers say this could be a clear indication that Maele could be planning to contest the 2019 general elections as an independent candidate, bouyed by the backing and support he is enjoying from some party members, among them sitting BDP councillors.

The Patriot on Sunday has learnt that since his suspension, Maele has been traversing the constituency lobbying for support and mobilising sympathisers to back him.  Maele has declined to discuss the issues surrounding his suspension from the BDP, which effectively renders him inelligible to return to Parliament after October 2019 general elections. Sources close to the development said Maele has been meeting with some of the BDP councilors in the constituency to map a way forward. “Maele has been in the constituency since his suspension. He is enjoying huge support from the constituents and some of the BDP councilors are also behind him to discuss the situation. They are trying to decide on the best way forward,” said a source in the constituency.

Elsewhere Maele was recently quoted in the media saying that he will make a profound announcement in three weeks on what he will do next, now that he is serving a 12 months  suspension that rules him out of the 2019 race under the BDP ticket where he won the party primary elections (Bulela Ditswe) narrowly against Sethabelo Modukanele.He won the primaries with a slight margin garnering 3 528  against 3 231 votes for Modukanele.

In a telephonic interview with Maele on Thursday, he said he is not willing to talk to the media about his suspension. There is growing speculation that opposition parties are watching the developments with a hawk’s eye, ready to pounce and draw Maele to their side should he ditch the BDP to contest as an independent candidate. Maele said he does not want to be dragged into discussing the issue whether he is being suspended for the sentiments he made when he declared his undying support for Khama late last year. “I don’t want to say anything about my suspension to the media at all. So let the media continue their speculations because I am not ready to talk on any developments at this moment. I am not saying anything,” said curtly, before terminating the call abruptly.

Loyalty to Khama

The ruling on suspension of Maele is being attributed by some to his stern loyalty to former President Ian Khama who is associated with the factional New Jerusalem Camp which is likely to jeopardize the stability of the ruling party.

 Some believe that Maele’s move to break ranks with the BDP incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi while other MPs seemed shy to declare support for the former president on an impasse that erupted between him and his successor is the one that earned him a suspension. The defiant Maele broke the silence and publicly declared support to Khama in a Kgotla meeting at Moremi saying he is fully behind his Kgosi Kgolo declaring that “ke eme tsii! le Kgosikgolo”. He emphasized at the time that he will never abandon his master in Khama as other BDP fellow MPs had decided to desert him and rally behind president Masisi.

Prior to declaring his loyalty to Khama publicly, Maele had already seemed to be not one of Masisi’s favourites as he was dropped from cabinet with the likes of Nkange MP, Jenamiso Edwin Batshu. Batshu was holding the ministerial portfolio of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs and has since replaced by Dorcas Makgato while Maele was replaced by Kefentse Mzwinila deputized by Itumeleng Moipisi.

Ahead of the Saturday meeting called by Ian Khama at Serowe main kgotla, where he was expected to announce his resignation from the BDP, Maele’s name cropped up as one of those likely to follow their kgosikgolo in the walkout.    

Related

Tags: MAELEMOKOKO

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
  • Killings of journalists up 50% in 2022, half targeted off duty    January 25, 2023
    Eighty-six journalists and media workers were killed around the world in 2022 – one every four days, according to UNESCO data, highlighting the grave risks and vulnerabilities that journalists continue to face in the course of their work.   […]
  • Judge Tau; please don’t stifle public scrutiny of the Court of AppealJanuary 25, 2023
    Her utterances are misplaced and must be condemned with the contempt it deserves ADAM PHETLHE The Patriot on Sunday dated 15 January 2022 carried an article titled ‘Judge Tau defends CoA Integrity’, with sub-headings “Complains of discrediting reckless statements; […]
  • Miss Botswana 2022 is the Face of KGK DiamondsJanuary 19, 2023
    Its been an exciting first week back to her MBW duties and we kick off the year with an official announcement that Our Queen is The face of KGK Diamonds. Lesego Chombo alongside Nigel Amos was the show stopper […]
  • Executives to watch in 2023January 19, 2023
    A year is often too short to demonstrate your worth, yet that’s exactly what the newly appointed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have to do to show that they deserve their enviable roles. PATRIOT BUSINESS looks at CEOs who shall […]
  • BLP TEST AP/BCP UNITY TALKSJanuary 19, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw The new entrant in the cooperation talks between Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) – Botswana Labour Party (BLP) has thrown spanner in the works by demanding that both AP and BCP yield […]
The Patriot On Sunday

© 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?