03 Feb 2016

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairman, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has dismissed as unfounded media insinuations that there is bad blood between himself and the party’s secretary general, Mr Botsalo Ntuane.

Mr Masisi, also the country’s Vice President, described reports of poor working relationship between himself and the secretary general as “baseless and unfounded rumours peddled by the media.”

Addressing a press conference in Gaborone on Tuesday, he  said the party had infact assigned Mr  Ntuane the responsibility to lead the launching of new party members. He also described as malicious media reports that falsely quoted him as having said he will be a better president than President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

He said his statement was misconstrued,  adding that, “the expectation is that BDP will do better than it did in the past…I had said it was unfortunate that President Khama came in during recession time,” he said, adding that the BDP is determined to perform better in the next general elections. On other issues, Mr Masisi urged party members who intended to challenge him for the party’s top position to do so.

He said the BDP embraced democratic ethos and that its members enjoyed the political right and freedom to stand for any position they wished to contest. For his part, Mr Ntuane concurred with the party chairman that they enjoyed good and cordial relationship.
He said his absence during previous press conferences was because he was unwell after having undergone a dental procedure.
Mr Ntuane stated that his ill-health should not bring party business to a halt.  Ends