BDP Women's Wing mum on Sebina saga

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women’s Wing has not yet stated its position on the ongoing Sebina defilement saga.

The saga involves a BDP Councillor in Sebina Kemmonye Amon and his alleged conversation with the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Fidelis Molao regarding the impregnating of an underage girl by the Councillor. Responding to a question from The Midweek Sun the BDP Women’s Wing chairperson, Dorcus Makgato said she hasn’t met with her committee to declare their position on the matter. She revealed that they would meet soon and interrogate the issue then take a stand on the matter.

Makgato explained that personally as a mother and a woman her position is that the matter should not be looked at according to party lines. She said all men in the country who are involved with underage children should be condemned in the strongest terms. Makgato stated that the issue should be considered a national issue and not a BDP issue.Addressing a press conference in Gaborone yesterday (Tuesday) BDP Secretary General Botsalo Ntuane said Molao who is also the party’s central committee member has told the party leadership that the alleged conversation is a fabrication and never took place.

Ntuane stated the assistant minister has informed them that he has already opened a case with the Broadhurst Police and the matter is being investigated. Regarding the Councillor, Ntuane said the party does not condone his behaviour of engaging in intimate relations with a schoolgirl. Despite pressure from members of the public for the party to suspend the Councillor, the party said they are giving the family time to resolve the issue and appropriate action to be taken against the Councillor.

“We have not called the Councillor about the matter to come and explain but we have talked to people in the constituency,” said Ntuane adding that they have not received any formal representation from any group. Meanwhile, Private Attorney, Uyapo Ndadi said if the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) does not prosecute the councilor they would do so.

“Concerned citizens, including myself, are ready to marshal our energies, brains and resources to seeing to it that this matter is prosecuted, either by us or the DPP and ultimately see justice being served on the child,” said Ndadi.

“We will not condone any form of abuse visited on our children. A nation that fails to protect its children against abuse is a lost nation. It has no soul. If we condone this, we will be giving perpetrators a license to violate and harm our children. I call any responsible citizen to action and let us send a strong message to sick men out there that we will not rest until they change their sick ways,” said the former BONELA Director.

According to Ndadi in terms of the Constitution of Botswana, the prerogative to prosecute or not prosecute or withdraw any prosecution lies with the DPP. “However, if the DPP for some reason decides not to prosecute, it is empowered to grant any person with an interest in the matter a certificate entitling him or her to mount a private prosecution. This notwithstanding, the police still have a duty to investigate the complaint thoroughly and provide their findings, which will then inform whoever wishes to advance the case further to be armed with their statements,” said Ndadi.