BNF denies ICU state
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday March 14, 2022 06:00
The allegations followed controversy and debate which were sparked by comments made by new entrant in the BNF presidential race, Dr Baatlhodi Molatlhegi on the state of the party.
Molatlhegi seemed to have raffled feathers and stoked a fire when he indicated in his candidacy announcement speech that the movement has been reduced to a pale shadow of itself.
His words were not well received by some sections of the BNF, prompting the party leadership to issue a statement refuting the claim.
However, a reliable source within the BNF says there is actually a report substantiating Molatlhegi’s comments regarding the state of the party.
The source who spoke to Mmegi on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said the BNF had indeed conducted an investigation on its state of affairs in recent years. It is said that a task team led by Dr Patrick Molutsi was set up just to investigate the state of affairs of the party.
“And the report, which has been kept confidential, clearly substantiates what Dr Molatlhegi said a fortnight ago. It really indicates that party structures are non-existent and that the party is in ICU. The party leadership is aware of these realities, but it does not want to admit it,” the source said.
The source further exposes the rot at the once mighty BNF, which shows that Molatlhegi’s words were not far-fetched.
When contacted for comment, BNF publicity secretary, Justin Hunyepa denied the existence of such report and warned that those who spoke on the contrary are actually tarnishing the name of the party.
“There is no such report. Further ask them if they are aware that lying and tarnishing the name of the party in public platforms is gross indiscipline and unacceptable,” he warned.
Molutsi, who was said to have been leading the team that investigated the state of affairs of the party, also denied the allegations saying he has never been tasked to lead any team to investigate the state of affairs of the BNF or there ever was such a team in place.
“I’m not aware of such report and I have never been asked to lead such a team if it ever existed,” responded Molutsi in a brief telephone conversation.
In his statement delivered during a press conference a fortnight ago, Molatlhegi had pointed to the collapse of the organisational structures of the BNF.
“Honest members of our organisation will readily admit to this. The party structures, needless to emphasise, are the organisation’s lifeline. They are the cogwheel around which its functioning revolves. It is to me difficult to think of an organisation being healthy or alive when its organs have ceased to function,” Molatlhegi said.
“This collapse of our party’s structures could to a large extent, explain the dismal decline in the performance of our organisation in successive national elections even under the umbrella of the opposition collective. This need not be belaboured as its evidence is there for all to see.”
He further said his race for the BNF presidency has placed party rebuilding and unity amongst his core priorities, and called for the party to trace itself and find its historical organisational values.