BDP leaders fight over suspended activist
Chakalisa Dube | Sunday May 15, 2022 19:53
Bateng was slapped with a suspension by the party sometime last year after it emerged that he is facing defilement charges. He was suspended from taking part in official party duties until he cleared his name and is to stand trial before the Francistown Magistrate’s Court.
However, in a surprise turn of events, this week, the ruling party secretary for the Francistown region, Sean Sebele declared the suspension null and void, a decision that has reportedly infuriated other members of the regional committee.
In his letter reversing the suspension, Sebele said the Francistown regional committee met on April 26 to deal with speculation that Bateng has been suspended from the party.
In the letter, Sebele said that at the meeting, the committee sought that evidence be brought forward that Bateng had been served with suspension letter, but such evidence was not availed. But some in the regional committee say that Sebele’s decision to reinstate Bateng was taken unilaterally.
“It must be noted that I as the Francistown region secretary have neither sat in a meeting discussing his suspension, have no copy of the said suspension letter, nor have I written any letter to that regard. As such this letter serves to authorise the Francistown East Branch Committee to accept and work with Mr Boikanyo Bateng as their duly elected branch secretary and coordinate, ward, and branch congresses as a matter of urgency,” he said.
The position of other regional leaders is that Bateng’s suspension was endorsed by the party executive at Tsholetsa House. They believe that Sebele wants Bateng to help him strengthen his bid for re-election at the Francistown region congress which will be held early next month.
Mmegi has also learnt that on Wednesday some regional leaders opposed to Sebele wrote to the party executive to intervene because they believe that Bateng’s suspension is in order and lifting it portrays the party in bad light.
In addition, on Wednesday, the regional leadership is said to have held a meeting where Sebele was shown Bateng’s suspension letter. Although details of the meeting are still sketchy, at the meeting members did not reach a consensus with Sebele who reportedly maintained that the procedure for suspending Bateng was not ideal. Sebele is also said to have maintained that Bateng was not given the suspension letter while others in the committee hold a contrary view.
Yesterday, BDP Francistown branch chairperson, Baemedi Medupi shot down suggestions that Bateng has been reinstated to his position as the Francistown East branch chairperson.
“The suspension still stands,” was Medupi’s curt response.
Sebele declined to comment in an interview with Mmegi. “Issues surrounding the suspension of Bateng are being discussed internally by those concerned. I cannot discuss them with the media,” he said.