BPF turns to independent mediators to rebuild party

The interim leadership of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), led by retired Lieutenant General Gaolathe Galebotswe, has adopted a defiant “No Surrender, No Retreat” posture as it seeks to rebuild and reunify the troubled party.Galebotswe says the committee has received a critical mandate from the general membership to engage independent and credible figures to help convene dialogue between rival factions.The aim, he explained, is to facilitate a structured process where both sides are heard and guided toward a lasting resolution.“Members are amenable to us approaching credible, neutral individuals who can listen to all parties and provide informed advice to map a durable solution,” he said.He stressed that the interim leadership remains accountable to party members and is committed to acting “without fear or favour” in discharging its responsibilities.The committee’s efforts have also been buoyed by intervention from former party president Mephato Reatile, who this week sought to clarify events leading up to his resignation, offering his version of internal developments that had left many members uncertain.The rallying call of “No Surrender, No Retreat”, a catchphrase historically associated with resilience and refusal to concede defeat, has become the defining ethos of the current leadership as it navigates the party’s internal crisis. Rather than pursuing disciplinary action against dissenting members, the Galebotswe-led committee has opted for a consultative approach, holding meetings with members and stakeholders across the country. The focus, he said, is firmly on unity and reconstruction, even as some individuals continue to claim parallel authority within the party.Among them is Dr Keorapetse Muzila, who has issued statements asserting her position as interim president. At the time of publication, she remained one of several figures using party communication channels to advance competing leadership claims.However, the Galebotswe administration has strongly rejected such assertions. In a more forceful rebuttal this time issued through interim secretary and legal practitioner Segaetsho Segaetsho, the committee urged members and the public to disregard communications attributed to Muzila.The statement cautioned against recognising her purported appointment, which it said stemmed from processes linked to the disputed Baisago congress under Reatile.It reaffirmed the interim committee’s commitment to resolving internal disputes in line with the party constitution, while urging patience and constructive engagement among members and stakeholders.The committee further assured that preparations for a properly constituted elective congress are underway, with details to be communicated in due course. Members were encouraged to remain focused and adhere to party statutes. Speaking to this publication in an interview, Galebotswe said his immediate priority is membership mobilisation ahead of a democratic congress that will allow delegates to elect leadership in a transparent and credible environment.He noted the irony that Muzila had served as vice chairperson under Reatile and had chaired the very meeting that led to his appointment as interim leader. Records of that meeting, he said, were formally documented by the party secretariat, including audio recordings to ensure accuracy.Galebotswe expressed concern over claims that there had been no clear pronouncement on leadership following internal disputes. He argued that, if necessary, the party should revert to the last undisputed congress preceding the annulled Baisago gathering—an event he did not attend as he was not yet a member.He further alleged that attempts to suspend Reatile and others were part of efforts to stall progress and seize control of the party.“This party must move forward despite our differences; we need each other. We are united in recognising that the current situation is damaging the party, and we must find a solution.”Central to that solution, he added, is the appointment of credible independent facilitators to guide reconciliation efforts, an approach he insists does not signal weakness but rather a commitment to constitutionalism and sustainable unity.Galebotswe reiterated that the ultimate authority rests with a properly convened congress, conducted under transparent and lawful conditions, including adherence to court directives on leadership legitimacy.He also raised concern over what he described as a “third force” emerging within the party, pointing to Muzila’s claims as part of a broader continuation of disputes linked to individuals who had lost a court challenge.

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BPF turns to independent mediators to rebuild party