BNF splits hairs over presidential challenger
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 1, 2022 06:00
The BNF is supposed to go to its elective party congress in July this year. However, Molatlhegi’s expression of interest in the BNF presidential election seems to be changing the dimension of the lobby team’s campaign within the party. It was clear that BNF vice president Prince Dibeela cannot compete against Boko in terms of resources and was not attracting key party members.
The recent development, which many describe as democratic has, however, not gone down well with some who do not want Boko challenged. Molatlhegi’s announcement seems to be the curveball many did not expect, as some key people who used to be in Boko’s camp are now supporting Molatlhegi. The latter announced his intention last week, just a few weeks after BNF vice president Dibeela said he has no interest in contesting. His key message to some BNF members is that the party is reduced to being a shadow of its former self.
However, some do not agree with him simply because he has been absent from party activities for a very long time, while some agree with him that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is slowly swallowing BNF or rendering it irrelevant.
When asked if the behaviour displayed by some members would not discourage others to contest, party spokesperson Justin Hunyepa said: “It’s the BNF character for members to engage robustly.
They do such under their respective temporary platforms as provided for by the party constitution. After the elective congress, the respective temporary platforms must dissolve as their continuation means factionalism. We also call upon all members to engage each other with the utmost respect.” Surprisingly the party spokesperson had issued a press release to the statement uttered by Molatlhegi, which reads: “The BNF remains united, resilient and as fit as a fiddle under the leadership of Boko.
The party has attracted youth and adults, and the membership base has grown exponentially as thousands of new members have been welcomed into the party.” Hunyepa stressed that Molatlhegi is misleading members when he says BNF is in the intensive care unit, adding that for the first time in history under Boko’s leadership, the BNF managed to convince other parties to work together under the affiliation. Hunyepa said this has been bearing fruit and there is a lot that the party had sacrificed to make the umbrella work.