- BDP to expel members conniving with opposition- Tsogwane
- “We should not forgive them”
- Threats of voter trafficking due to disgruntlements
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chairman Slumber Tsogwane says he wishes surveillance cameras could be used to nab disgruntled party members who connive with and vote for the opposition during elections.
Launching the party’s Moselewapula Ward by-election candidate, Gilbert Boikhutso, in the Francistown West constituency over the weekend, Tsogwane who is also the country’s Vice President said, “We do not expect BDP activists to vote for opposition parties no matter the circumstances. Working clandestinely with opposition is an indication that you do not like your party, therefore such kind of democrats should not expect us to forgive them,” he said, declaring that “Once you are caught doing that automatically you will be expelled from the party.” BDP members who lost Moselewapula primary elections are threatening to traffic voters in favour of the opposition after their appeals were dismissed for lacking evidence. “I wish cameras were allowed and used in the polling booth because that was going to be easy to find those who betray the party,” said Tsogwane to the approving applause of party faithfuls.
Mavis Amos, one of the candidates whose appeal was dismissed expressed concern about the consequence of the rumored voter trafficking. “It is people who are trafficked from somewhere who actually dictate terms to us, undermining our choice in the process. The most likely thing to happen will be that some concerned party faithfuls might sell the party in frustration,” she lamented.