The combative former Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi learned how difficult it is to remove a sitting President when she pulled out of contest to challenge Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi Friday at the ruling party’s Presidential Congress in Kang, a small rural town set in the Kalahari about 400km south of the country’s capital city Gaborone.
Mokgweetsi Masisi who enjoyed the support of 14 regions around the country against Venson-Moitoi, who enjoyed the support of the former President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and 49 delegates pulled out during the day of the election to avoid a humiliating defeat.
“I accept this nomination for President and I want it,” said Masisi to loud cheers and ululations Friday from the estimated 1,000 delegates deliberating in a tent situated on a dusty football pitch at Matsha Community College. Subsequently Masisi after winning a no contest, vowed to reach out to Venson-Moitoi and acknowledged political contestation is healthy at a conference many expected to descend into bitter acrimony.
Masis said in opening official remarks at the National Council meeting that, “I would like to congratulate Honourable Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi for launching a spirited campaign for the presidency of the party, and I thank her supporters as I call upon all of you to appreciate the democratic processes that have shaped our Party for a long time, and more importantly to unite and work even harder to secure a BDP victory in the upcoming general elections.”
Venson-Moitoi failed to obtain a postponement of the Special Congress Thursday at the High Court and to overturn a decision by the ruling party’s Secretary General Mpho Balopi, to exclude 26 councillors from her list of delegates to the conference which she nevertheless corrected.
“I will not participate in a sham,” claimed Venson-Moitoi.
Venson-Moitoi complained about how the ruling party elders and Former MP’s ganged up against her concerned that she was a lackey of former President Khama, whose close allies are facing damaging corruption investigations. She also enjoyed support from ruling party MP’s many of whom had lost primary elections and will not be contesting during elections. Venson-Moitoi was also incensed that she was not provided access to the voters roll.
She also expressed her fury at court ruling suggesting she was not qualified to be head of state because there were reportedly issues about her citizenship.
“I went to High Court to seek a remedy being a postponement because playing the fields were not free and fair but court ruled on something else by questioning my citizenship and arguing I filed late,” said Venson-Moitoi.
Speaking after he was elected Presidential candidate of the ruling party, Masisi appeared sensitive to the challenges he faces noting Government needed to create sustainable jobs, improve governance and further economic growth.
“We at the BDP stand for one nation, a nation of shared values and purpose, a nation of shared prosperity where merit comes before privilege, where hard work merits recognition,” said Masisi.
He said, “We recognise and appreciate the current challenges of employment, and stagnation at the upper level of the middle income status as a country. We offer to move up to the high-income status as espoused in our National Vision 2036.”
