Moswaane chickens out

Francistown West Member of Parliament (MP), Ignatius Moswaane has on Monday withdrawn assault charges against Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chairperson for the Francistown South branch, Ford Moiteela, who is alleged to have rained blows on the MP sometime in April.

This comes after a leaked tape in which the Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi is said to have asked Moiteela and Moswaane to reconcile as their poisoned relationship was not good for the party. Moswaane has had several running battles with the party. In President Ian Khama’s address at the Mmadinare BDP congress last year, he threatened to take action against an unnamed member of the party who criticised the party in public and it was assumed he was referring to Moswaane.

He once contested elections as an independent candidate and won after he had controversially lost to Babonye Mosalagae in the BDP primary elections. The two BDP stalwarts engaged in a fist fight after a quarrel during a campaign meeting for the Phillip Matante East by-election this year. The party would later lose the by-election amidst complaints that the scuffle had had a negative impact in the campaign effort of the party as it had widened the divisions.

Prosecuting officer in this case, Mothusi Meshack, told the court that Moiteela was not in attendance. He said that he tried to inform the accused to come to court but his phone was unavailable. “There are some developments I received as affidavits from the complainant say that he wants the matter withdrawn,” Meshack informed the court saying that he does not have a problem with it. Moswaane, who is the complainant in this matter, was also not in attendance.

In his affidavit, Moswaane had stated that he has decided to withdraw the case he had lodged against Moiteela. He prayed that none of the parties should face legal costs. “I therefore plead with the Magistrate and the prosecution to withdraw the case,” reads Moswaane’s affidavit. Francistown Magistrate, Kaveri Kapeko then withdrew the case. Isaac Seleka represented Moiteela in this matter.