Africa-Press – Botswana. After severing ties with his family (Masisi), Olebile Pilane has jumped ship from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to join the opposition party Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) which former president Ian Khama helped found in 2019.
Pilane and his family (Masisi)’s relationship reached a point of no return when the two parties went in and out of the courts. Pilane then accused the Masisi family of ousting him from their company Building Services (Proprietary) Limited owned by President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s sisters Boitumelo Phadi Mmutle, Ketshidile Hlanze. This was after the company had won a multimillion pula tender.
After a three-year-long battle in the courts, Judge Michael Leburu ruled in favour of the Masisi family leaving Pilane out in the cold in March this year.
A few months later after the court ruling, Pilane has deferred alluding that he cannot support a movement that is corrupt and does not look out for the well-being of its citizens. He highlighted that he was motivated to join BPF because he resonates well with Khama as he is one person who has been persecuted for crimes that he has not been found guilty of.
“I believe the secretary (Lawrence Ookeditse) hates corruption that is embedded in the outgoing government. I believe we can work together as a party to deliver a new dawn and restore civil liberties to Batswana and along the way get rid of this parasite that is eating our country,” Pilane said.
Pilane has however shied away from stating that his defection to BPF was due to severed ties with his family but a move for the right course which is a fight against corruption.
“My move has nothing to do with who has a fall out with who but rather what BDP is doing to this country and the endless corruption. I refused to be corrupt and the BPF aligns with me on that front,” he said.
Pilane who joined BPF at a late stage as the 2024 General Elections are imminent has asked to be deployed anywhere in the party. “Although late as it may be I am ready to be deployed anywhere the party may deem fit or should require my assistance,” he said.
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