Merafhe's visit comes at a time when the party's traditional factions of Barata-Phathi and A-Team are literally at each other's throats in Francistown. Yesterday, BDP executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema, did not state the exact date of the visit, but said that they are worried by the perennial wars in Francistown. "We are all worried that Francistown is divided and has known no peace at all for a long time. If we don't find out the root- cause of this incessant bickering, it might end up costing us the three constituencies of Francistown," he said.
Why is the BDP so divided in Francistown?
Serema has many answers. He said that electioneering for party positions and power jostling are at the centre of the problem. "So, Merafhe would be coming to Francistown and listen to both sides. Factionalism is so embedded in Francistown so much that I am completely at a loss to apprehend why it is like that," he lamented.
Serema is worried that in most cases, the region's factional fights are done in public forums like mayoral elections, and this portrays the party in bad light. He is in agony because some BDP members in good-standing go to the extent of assisting the opposition to unseat colleagues. He said the party is investigating the matter. He is at a loss why factionalism has refused to die in Francistown. "We talk about these things at different forums, but it is shocking that we are not getting positive results." Serema dismissed allegations that the BDP secretariat has a tendency of treating members of the A-Team with kid gloves even if they are in the wrong.
Merafhe's visit will be the BDP's umpteenth attempt to bring elusive peace to the ever-volatile region. In the past, the party had sent high-powered delegations led by former president Festus Mogae, current President Ian Khama, former BDP chairman, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, and current chairman Daniel Kwelagobe who was sent in his capacity as secretary general.
There is nothing the party can show in the previous attempts to effect peace as the polarity has now deepened. Currently, the region is under the control of Barata-Phathi. Ahead of the party congress in Kanye last July, the A-Team members cried that their rivals had sidelined them from the list of delegates. In the recent mayoral elections, the Barata-Phathi humiliated the A-Team.
The chairman f the region, Botho Ntirang said that so far, the only issue that is yet to be resolved is the dispute over the mayoral elections. "Although it is unsafe to talk about an issue that we have not yet gotten an invite on, I can only guess that Merafhe will be coming to our region to, amongst others, talk about the issue relating to the mayoral elections," said Ntirang. He added that some councillors have complained that the elections were not open to all interested parties.
