Tsholetsa House accused of purging anti-Masisi candidates
It is all messed up at the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) as the party struggles to contain controversy surrounding primary elections.
The BDP Secretariat under the leadership of Secretary General Mpho Balopi has been accused of conniving with Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) to purge some of the contestants for the remaining 40 constituencies. About 1304 candidates for both parliament and council seats are expected to contest in the Bulela-Ditswe which was postponed indefinitely early this week following a Central Committee meeting. Over 22 constituencies are said to have lodged complaints regarding voters’ rolls which are to be used during the primaries.
The alleged connivance between the Secretariat and PEEC is said to have been going on for some time as people were being blacklisted (removed from voters’ rolls) while others were being added into voters’ rolls of areas of places where they do not vote.According to sources what blew the cover was when close to 300 people from Kang North and South Wards in Kgalagadi North constituency were to be blacklisted. Incumbent Member of Parliament and also Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Itumeleng Moipisi will be defending his seat against transport magnate, Talita Monnakgotla.
“What happened is that the names were brought to Tsholetsa House by PEEC deployee Chomi Letlole who was assigned the constituency. He told officials at the office that the names of those people should be removed. What was suspicious was that the number was too high.
“Again only Ward Secretaries signed the documents. Procedurally people who should sign are Ward Secretaries, Branch Secretary, Branch Chairperson and a PEEC deployee,” said a highly placed source at BDP head office. The sources revealed that two officers at Tsholetsa Political Assistants who questioned the documents were subsequently suspended from work last week Thursday.
According to a letter of suspension seen by this publication, the duo is suspended for breach of Disciplinary Policy. They are barred from being in contact with the office or travelling outside Gaborone without notifying the Secretariat. The suspension is said to have been carried by Executive Secretary Merapelo Moloise under the instruction of Balopi.
The suspension of the two employees is said to have happened after they alerted PEEC Secretary Kabo Morwaeng who at the time was in the company of Head of Communications Lesedi Dintwe. The suspension is said to have come as a surprise to the employees and their colleagues given that Morwaeng is said to have appreciated the raising of alarm by the two employees.
It is alleged that the close to 300 names have been there in all the three (3) voters rolls that were taken to the constituency for verification. “What happens is that the first voters roll is checked and corrections made. Then the second voters’ roll is sent for verification by the same people. After the voters’ roll is checked and corrected for the third time the corrected one which would be for the fourth time is used during voting.
“We suspect that they knew that once the names have been removed at the third verification then during voting electorates would be taken by surprise to find that their names do not appear while all along they have been there and technically they would not vote,” said a source.
It is alleged that the Ward Secretaries have also distanced themselves from signing the letters for blacklisting maintaining that their signatures have been forged. The incident triggered an emergency meeting at party office on Thursday last week after Kgalagadi North local structures got wind of the news.
The incident is said to be one of many which are said to be happening at party office between PEEC and some of the employees. The plan according to sources is to frustrate some of the candidates who are deemed anti-President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his Central Committee. Some of the central committee members are said to be pushing against some of the candidates who seem to be a threat to them through their close association to the president.
When contacted Letlole said the claims are not true. He said as PEEC deployee in the constituency he ensured proper procedure was followed and those trying to implicate him are telling lies. PEEC Secretary Kabo Morwaeng could not be reached at press time as his mobile phone rang unanswered.
Balopi stated that they are not going to be distracted in delivery of credible elections. He said comments that people are making have always been there. “We are okay and focusing on the elections. The issue of employees is an internal matter and confidential. The process of investigations should be allowed to take its course and all procedures to be followed,” Balopi said.
This publication has gathered that other complaints that have been forwarded to the party leadership are from Lobatse, Shashe West, Gantsi North and Serowe West. Contestants for Lobatse are Thapelo Matsheka, Ahmed Shabbeer Ishael, Kamal Jacobs, Patrick G. Kebailele, Sadique Kebonang (incumbent) and Lone Lincoln Bome.
In Serowe West, Keletso Joseph Rakhudu will go head to head with Tshekedi Standford Khama (incumbent) and Moemedi Gerald Dijeng while in Shashe West Fidelis Mmilili Molao (incumbent) will be defending his turf against Onkabetse Daniel.