Molatlhegi contest sparks controversy
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday March 7, 2022 06:00
For a long time, the BNF has been rocked by internal instability. The party found itself divided when Dibeela decided to challenge his president, Duma Boko for the top post. However, the BNF seemed to have attained a little bit of respite when Dibeela pulled out of the race. With the impending elections for the party’s new leadership, there was hope that the BNF would emerge from the elections a united front and ready to cement its position as the country’s biggest opposition party as it has often times self proclaimed.
But Molatlhegi’s emergence has almost thrown the cat among the pigeons, and could see the BNF plunged into further turmoil going into its congress. It is clear that the party is once again fighting with itself as entrenched factions prepare to battle for control. While Boko once rallied his troops to engage in robust activism and defence of the organisation in the absence of a crisis or a threat to the party, the BNF masses now find itself almost divided as to who to support for the party’s presidential position. “We must be on red alert diligently in defence of the BNF,” pleaded Boko during the launch of the party’s membership recruitment drive launch in 2020.
But has Boko’s words fell on deaf ears as the BNF membership is now at each other’s throats over the presidential race? Does this mean that peace will keep eluding the Kopano movement? At the moment, it is clear that the BNF is like a house on fire, just about to explode. Despite the troubles, it must be stated that Boko has over the years managed to steer the BNF ship to steadiness. While one could hear of fights here and there from the so-called the Fearfokol cabal, he was able to calm down the waters.
He wields so much power and has won the hearts of many of the BNF diehards, especially the youthful lot. This has made it easy for him to reign supreme. But there are those who believe that Boko has killed the movement and needs to be replaced. One of those is Molatlhegi. What is clear and obvious is that, despite his late entrance to the race, he has support within the movement. Those that are discontent with Boko’s rule are obviously pushing for him. While he said a decision to contest for any position is not and should not be viewed with any measure of cynicism, that has not been the case since Molatlhegi announced his desire to lead the BNF last week Wednesday. However, Molatlhegi entered the race fully aware that his decision could stir the still waters and cause unrest within the movement.
In his own admission, he said often times when one raises their hand and offers to serve, in other quarters this is misconstrued to be a treacherous act deserving of severe punishment. “The reaction to this is often adverse hostility. This hostility often manifests itself with the question “but who is he”. He said his contesting should not been seen to bring instability into the BNF but a sign of continued democracy. Molatlhegi said the outcome of the dialogue and consultations he carried out, indicates that the BNF movement has been reduced to a pale shadow of itself.
While he said in his speech that he contests the presidency of the BNF with its rebuilding and its unity amongst his core priorities, the outcome of his contest may speak otherwise as already evidenced by the response from the BNF spokesman, Justin Hunyepa. Although Hunyepa has said, “It’s the BNF character for members to engage robustly”, he has also not taken lightly to the remarks made by Molatlhegi about the state of the BNF. Hunyepa said the BNF remains united, resilient and as fit as a fiddle under the leadership of Boko.
He explained that since the leadership of Boko, the party has attracted many youth and adults and the membership base has grown exponentially as thousands of new members have been welcomed into the party.
Therefore, Hunyepa said it is grossly misleading and incorrect for Molatlhegi to make announcement on public media platforms claiming that the BNF is in ICU. But as Molatlhegi prepares to take on Boko at the July congress, there are clear signs that his entrance into the race has rubbed salt on healing old wounds, and places the party into a state of war with itself. A war of words has already erupted amongst the party members, as such it remains to be seen how the party will emerge post the July congress.