BPF suspends more Butale followers

Botswana Patriotic Front (BP) saga continues, as more party members have been suspended for attending the consultative meeting which was held over the weekend by Biggie Butale.A day before the consultative meeting held by Butale in Francistown, a press release was issued by the spokesperson of the BPF which advised members of the party against attending or participating in the meeting.However, the consultative meeting was graced by BPF members and what followed suit this Monday was suspensions of members of the BPF who attended the meeting. This publication is in possession of seven suspension letters written to members of the BPF which were issued this week.A member from Nata Gweta area, Joe Linga confirmed to Botswana Guardian that he has been handed a suspension letter this week.Linga said that he does not understand why he was given a suspension letter without appearing before a disciplinary hearing and other measures to reprimand him raised.He notes that as a member of the BPF, he went to Francistown because he had questions for President Butale, previously under the illusion that Butale was not running the party properly. Linga was content with the answers that Butalegave at the consultative meeting.“Butale explained to us reasons we as the BPF should not join the UDC without our demands being heeded to,” Linga said, adding that Butale reminded them about the party stance that was agreed upon by the congress that was held at Rainbow School earlier this year.Linga said at Rainbow where the party held its National Conference and Extraordinary Congress, it was agreed that the BPF would only get into the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) if its requirements are met.However, the current National Executive Committee (NEC) seem to have forgotten this commitment that it made to its people as it just wants to swing into the UDC without taking heed of the needs of the people.Furthermore, clause 1.6.1 and 1.3 of the BPF constitution gives power to the people to criticise NEC and clause 6.1.2 allows members to observe that the NEC is run according to the BPF constitution.Linga said it is on this premise that he went to Francistown to engage with the party President and as a member of the BPF he was satisfied with the answers that Butale gave him.Furthermore, he noted that clause 20.2 of the constitution of the BPF states that the succession of the President is brought about by the national congress.Linga said that his interests are vested in the progress of the party. He said that he came out of retirement at the request of the party patron former President Khama that he, Butale, should cone and help build the party.As far as he is concerned, the suspension he was handed this week is baseless and they will continue to build the party until proper channels are followed to address the challenges the party faces.Another member of the BPF, Annah Maswikiti from Selebi Phikwe West was also given a suspension letter pending hearing with the Disciplinary Committee (DC). She believes that Butale is still the party President.Maswikiti recalls that at Rainbow School, the party asked the NEC to negotiate to enter the UDC on the requirements that they put forward. She said that members of the BPF are against blindly getting into the UDC.Furthermore, the current NEC committee was not voted into power following the correct procedure, and they snub anyone who goes against them.She said that the NEC wants to suspend those that raise questions against them so that they can have their own way.Vice Chairperson of the BPF Disciplinary Committee Boitshwarelo Mopedi said that the current NEC does not want to hold congresses. He noted that what the NEC is doing is a big mistake as they just issue out suspensions without any explanations to the people.Mopedi said his suspension is a farce as he has not taken any party merchandise nor has he used any party material in an unethical way. He noted that the actions of the NEC have largely demoralised members of the party as decisions that go against the party are taken.Former cabinet minister, Moiseraela Goya told Botswana Guardian that he was present in the NEC meeting the day that letters were written to boot him and Biggie Butale out of the party.He recalls that an agenda was set from the onset to kick them out because when he quizzed why Butale is not called to the meeting, he was silenced and told that Butale would not listen to anyone.Goya further added that he was shocked at the meeting to see that Mephato Reatile had signed the expulsion letter as the President of the BPF.Goya said that he voiced out his complaints against this un-procedural conduct by members of the NEC but his words fell on deaf ears. Goya noted that Butale is still the BPF President. He urged members of the BPF to pay attention to everything that is going on in their party. Goya said rumours that they do not want the UDC have been spread. However, he argues that they just don’t want to blindly join the union. They had asked the NEC to deliver their requests to the UDC.Furthermore, the UDC has been recruiting members of the BPF to have membership cards of the UDC, something that is unconstitutional, according to the constitution of the BPF, as the BPF constitution is against dual party membership.He further noted that the UDC is vying for an unconstitutional stance by luring sitting MPs and council members to sign under the UDC in return that they will not contest in any primary elections. He said this alone erodes democracy as it robs party members of their opportunity to choose for themselves.Goya said that he was reinstated into the party by the order of the High Court and it is erroneous of the DC to be in contempt of court.Speaking to Botswana Guardian, Butale said that the last elective Congress was held in 2019, and they are yet to hold another, which naturally means that he remains at the helm of the BPF as its founding and standing President until 2025 when their next elective congress will be held.“This was a unanimous decision that was taken at our recent extraordinary congress in April,” he said.Butale said that the consultations with members of the party are all about informing them about the prevailing state of affairs in the party and to get their views on how to collaborate with other opposition parties for the impending 2024 General Election.“My intention with my team is to travel the country to hear the thoughts and feelings of the people,” Butale said, adding that they have held two successful consultative meetings so far in Francistown and Molepolole where people freely expressed their views.Moreover, Butale said that they are getting calls from across the nation to conduct similar consultation meetings.He revealed that in an effort to unify the party, he will ensure the BPF has a NEC that will put their interests secondary and the party's first, he said, suggesting that some NEC members are looking at what they personally benefit as opposed to what the party benefits.Mephato Reatile, who has been appointed party president by the NEC said they are not paying attention to anything that Butale does as he is not part of the BPF.Party spokesperson, Lawrence Ookeditse said that the party will suspend any member who facilitates Butale or who speaks at Butale’s meetings. Ookeditse noted that there is no faction within the BPF.He said that Butale is a renegade who cannot be portrayed as the leader of the party.

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BPF suspends more Butale followers