Barata-phathi issue demands :: Mmegi Online

For the first time, President Ian Khama has extended the olive branch to the Barata-Phathi faction of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), perhaps to avert an imminent split.

On Saturday he sent emissaries to negotiate with the group, which has announced that it will form a new party. Khama's instructions to Barata-Phathi was that they should list their grievances. The BDP central committee reportedly held an emergency meeting over the weekend to counter the crisis in the party.

Meanwhile, during the Barata-Phathi conference in Mogoditshane, some delegates proposed that they should ignore Khama's appeals because they were leaving 'his party' anyway. Others felt that Khama was only applying his military tactics to buy time and would never heed their pleas. However, it was agreed that out of courtesy, they should hand him their demands. Members of Barata-Phathi made it clear that they are leaving the BDP whether their concerns are addressed or not.

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