Ookeditse's NEC loses grip on party leadership

Lawrence Ookeditse’s faction has suffered a major setback after the High Court dismissed its urgent bid to be recognised as the legitimate leadership of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).The group had rushed to court seeking to block a rival faction, Basireletsi ba Molao Motheo, from running the party, arguing that they were duly elected at the disputed Serowe congress in November 2025.However, the court found their claim too weak to stand, effectively leaving them without legal control of the party.In a damning finding, the court questioned the credibility of the Serowe congress elections, pointing to serious irregularities.These included the resignation of the Director of Elections during the process and the unlawful takeover by his deputy, who had no constitutional authority to run the elections. The court ruled that the entire election process was legally flawed.The court also upheld the powers of former party president Mophato Reatile, finding that he could dissolve the congress under the party’s constitution.While the reasons for doing so were disputed, the court ruled that his decision remains valid unless overturned through proper legal channels.With the elections now in doubt and the congress effectively dissolved, Ookeditse’s NEC failed to prove it had a clear right to lead the party. The application was dismissed with costs, leaving the BPF leadership battle unresolved but significantly weakening Ookeditse’s position.After the judgment, spokesperson for the Basireletsi ba Molao Motheo faction, Jojo Lucas, told this publication that they are willing to work with others and, in their view, there are no factions.He noted that their biggest vision is to work together to take the BPF forward. He explained that the leadership of the party will, in due course, update the members on what is next.Spokesperson of the Ookeditse faction, Ogaufi Ratsie, said the judgment has left a vacuum of power, as it failed to address what they sought from the court.He said the judgment failed to show the reasons that led them to lose the case, and the judge failed to show what the way forward is for them.“We cannot have a situation where the party has anarchy,” Ratsie said, adding that the vacuum left by the judge has created a platform for what they do not want and in due course they will map a way forward for the party. He added that they will continue with activities of the party regardless of the situation as the judge has failed to take action.

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Ookeditse's NEC loses grip on party leadership