Suspended Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Mogoditshane Parliamentary candidate Tshepang Mabaila’s appeal has been dismissed. It is alleged Mabaila’s undoing was when he offered to broker peace between the current and former president.
Mabaila was suspended for five years for bringing the name of the party into disrepute and sponsoring a motion of no confidence against President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi. The motion was tabled by Leader of Opposition Advocate Duma Boko. Mabaila then appealed the decision to President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi. Last week Friday, Mabaila’s appeal to the president was dismissed. According to sources within the BDP Mabaila’s appeal was dismissed following media reports that he would avail himself to resolve the standoff between Dr. Masisi and his predecessor Dr. Ian Khama.
His utterances are said to have upset President Masisi who felt the youthful Mabaila is jumping the gun and wants to get involved in matters way beyond him. The president is said to have disclosed to his close associates that Mabaila is too forward.
However, in an interview with Botswana Guardian this week, Mabaila dismissed the claim indicating that the president dismissed his appeal because of someone within the BDP who always mislead the president. According to Mabaila he is confident that had Dr. Masisi not been influenced to make such decision he would have pardoned him.
“There is a thorn within the BDP who is dividing the party. This person influenced the first decision for my suspension and the dismissal of my appeal. I believe the president given chance and space would have come up with a different decision,” said Mabaila who indicated that he has not yet given up on the President and would soon write to him requesting that his appeal be looked into again.
Mabaila stated that he was surprised to learn that his appeal has been dismissed by people from Mogoditshane. He said he has not received the letter dismissing his appeal. “I was shocked to hear that the party Secretary General Mpho Balopi had delivered the letter to the BDP Mogoditshane Branch Committee before me as the affected party. Even today (Tuesday) I have not received my letter but Kweneng East Regional Secretary called me and said they had my letter.
“I believe Balopi as my elder, leader and Parliamentary candidate like me could have called me to deliver the news to me,” he said. Mabaila of Mabaila Foundation revealed that should he not be successful in being reinstated he would still contest in the 2019 general elections. He explained that all he wants to do is to represent in Parliament the people of Mogoditshane adding that he would win convincingly.
Mabaila has maintained that he believes like any other Motswana and BDP youth that he can help resolve the standoff between the two leaders. “Look I am close to former president and I have great respect for the current president. I am a concerned youth and member of the BDP I believe I can talk to both leaders to find a common ground for the sake of the BDP and the country. If given a chance I can get to both of them because Masisi due to his leadership he is accessible and is always willing to listen,” said Mabaila.
If Mabaila fails in his second attempt, BDP Mogoditshane would be expected to go for primary elections next month.