The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) will host a re-admission celebration for Okavango Member of Parliament Kenny Kapinga in Shakawe over the Independence Day holidays.
Kapinga’s application to re-join the party was recently approved, after he was expelled from BCP alongside other four MPs – Dithapelo Keorapetse, Dr Never Tshabang, David Tshere and Onneetse Ramogapi during the BCP national conference held in Mahalapye for defying the party caucus.
The expelled MPs were part of the UDC caucus that dethroned BCP President Dumelang Saleshando from the position of Leader of Opposition (LOO) in Parliament which has since been attained by Keorapetse.
It has been confirmed that the party will use the same event to welcome to the party former Alliance for Progressive (AP) parliamentary candidate for Okavango in the 2019 general elections, Kabelo Mahupe who lost to the incumbent MP. Mahupe joined the party in June this year.
BCP Northwest Youth League chairman Gosegomang Aupiti confirmed that plans are afoot for a welcome celebration for the return of Kapinga. He highlighted that they are yet to meet with the central committee to discuss the matter.
Surprisingly, North West Region Chairperson Galetlwaelwe Masake has denied knowledge of any welcome celebrations planned for Kapinga. However, he revealed that they will next week Thursday address Okavango constituents on Kapinga’s return to the party.
Meanwhile BCP President Dumelang Saleshando told this publication that Kapinga’s re-admission is currently going through internal processes, but highlighted that whatever the region and constituency decides to do for the MP, they will support them.
Kapinga’s readmission came about after he followed the party’s re-admission process of apologising to his constituency and his region for defying the party.
For his part Kapinga did not confirm about the celebration however he noted that he was made aware that an arrangement will be done for his reinstatement.
Quizzed about his return to the party, Kapinga indicated that he did this mainly for the people of Okavango. “People in my constituency strongly believed in me and made me aware that they still want me to serve them as their MP under BCP.”
Kapinga said he did not have any pressure to join any party, however he added that he will even contest for the 2024 general elections should his constituency members show interest on him.
The MP noted that his only condition on re-joining the party if he is allowed is to become a full member and have full rights that he had before his expulsion from the party.
The Okavango legislature has since noted that he is looking forward to re-joining the party and discuss a way forward with his party members as well as sorting out their differences which he says he believes they are not irreconcilable.
He noted that his expulsion together with his fellow MPs was unfortunate adding that he wishes the other expelled party members could come around and request for a reinstatement so that they solve their differences internally.
