- Less than 10 people turned for meeting he called
- F’town region suspects Masisi is pushing presidential bid– BDP sources
- Region sympathetic to Nonofo Molefhi who is expected to challenge Masisi- claims
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Francistown region reportedly snubbed a consultative meeting organized by party Chairman Mokgweetsi Masisi to address pending issues currently engulfing the region.
Masisi who is also the Vice President was in Francistown this past Saturday to officiate at the BDP Fundraising dinner and to address the region on Sunday morning. Sources close to the development however say Masisi was forced to abandon the much anticipated consultative meeting following poor turnout.
According to BDP sources, Masisi was supposed to address among other issues, Specially Elected Councilor Tuelo Zazammbi’s early campaign issue and that of the troubled Deputy Mayor Lechedzani Modenga who has been trending on local media for all the wrong reasons. However to much shock, only 10 people pitched up: “The region was aware of this meeting but what we gathered is that they deliberately boycotted it because they feel that the VP has a hidden agenda. The region who are anti-Masisi believe that he is only holding these consultative meetings because he is seeking sympathy ahead of the congress where Nonofo Molefhi will reportedly challenge for the Presidential seat,” an insider revealed, claiming also that the Francistown region was more sympathetic to Molefhi.
Frustrated by embarrassing turn out, Masisi is said to have asked party Secretary General Botsalo Ntuane to take over the meeting should more people turn up at a later stage. Ntuane is however said to have declined and abandoned the meeting, insisting that he did not know the agenda of the meeting as it was organized by Masisi. “Ntuane also refused to chair the meeting because he felt that he cannot lead the meeting that can backfire due to the issues engulfing the region,” an insider said adamantly.
While Ntuane was unreachable for comment before print time, Regional Secretary Raoboy Mpuang claimed ignorance of the meeting. “I am not aware of any planned meeting. What I know is that Masisi was in the region for Fundraising dinner,” he said.