03 Jul 2014

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) received a boost in the Tonota South constituency when it welcomed new members who defected to the Botswana National Front (BNF).

The members were paraded during a rally on July 1 in Tonota. BNF vice president, Same Bathobakae praised the area MP and former BDP member, Mr Pono Moatlhodi for being a hardworker.

She said the rally was part of the activities that would be held in the constituency as the party continued its recruitment drive, which they expected to yield more members in the run up to the elections.

The veteran BNF member and councillor for Tonota West, Mr Lemme Kgopa who had been credited with recruiting the deputy speaker of the national assembly to the BNF informed multitudes who had braved the cold weather that since 2009, they had worked hard to transform Tonota South, a predominantly ruling party stronghold since 1965, into a winnable constituency.

Councillor Kgopa promised members of the UDC that the recruitment drive they were engaged in would result in many people joining the umbrella.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi thanked those who decamped to the UDC and said, just like him, they were following their conscience.

He stated that the UDC was going to make youth employment a priority and cautioned young people against being used as campaign fodder during working hours while people were working for their families.

Tonota, he explained, needed an opposition MP who could articulate its challenges in Parliament independently. For his part, Mr Moatlhodi praised those who followed him after he left the BDP and said this was just the beginning of many things to come.

He criticised BDP candidates in the constituency of being novices and politically immature. MP Moatlhodi highlighted that everywhere where they meet discussions are always centered on his departure to the opposition. 

“They have forgotten about their party’s manifesto and are seized with how they can stop the exodus that is taking place in their party. I urge them to stop crying and tell residents of Tonota about what they will do for them,” he said.

He also noted that he had a good track record both as a councillor and MP, reminding them that most of the developments in Tonota came during his tenure. He also pleaded with residents to give him another opportunity by voting for the UDC to represent them as it stood for developments.

He cited the Tonota-Francistown road, the Shashe Mooke road and bridge and the establishment of Jamataka as a village as some of the examples of his political leadership.

He explained that the people who followed him were from only four wards and said he expected many to follow him to the UDC. MP Moatlhodi explained that he still has a lot of groundwork to cover in the remaining five wards and was positive that his target of registering 5000 people is attainable. Ends