Youth league congress tests BNF unity
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday May 30, 2022 06:00
Mmegi has learnt that this week, a team of elders comprising Patrick Mmolotsi and Howard Sigwele met with teams that support Boko and BNF president contender Baatlhodi Molatlhegi at which the issue of an independent electoral board was raised. The Molatlhegi team is said to have bitterly complained that the absence of an independent body will not guarantee free and fair elections starting with the youth league congress. According to an insider, the team also informed the elders that it had written numerous letters to the CC regarding this matter and other issues including the suspensions of some of the Molatlhegi team members. It has emerged that the CC had not responded to the letters. Despite BNF secretary-general Moeti Mohwasa's earlier pronouncement that the suspension will be lifted on condition that the suspended members apologise, team Molatlhegi explained that it has not received any official correspondence to that effect. Rather, some members at the regional level are still isolating the Molatlhegi team.
However, the Boko team also raised concern over issues of indiscipline by the Molatlhegi team. The Boko team further accused the Molatlhegi team of leaking wrong information to the media and consequently tarnishing the image of the party. Moreover according to the insider, a team of elders aiming at reconciling the two teams agreed that they would meet with leaders of the two teams soon to address all concerns from both parties. Meanwhile, the BNF youth league task team secretary- general Mpho Kgomotso said preparations for the weekend congress are going well and they are engaging all campaigning teams. “We are working well with both teams and those who have complaints engage us through writing and we have meetings to solve any issues and complaints. We believe that the voters’ roll will be out this week and everyone will have access to it at their structures. Our team will be available even at the congress to address any issue that might arise. Our aim is for this election to be free and fair to all who want to lead the youth,” Kgomotso said.
University of Botswana political analyst Mokaloba Mokaloba said if the party does not manage the youth league elections, the BNF might come out divided even further. “This is the time that the BNF should move on looking at the fact that the youth structure has long collapsed because of internal fights. But knowing the BNF, they may even fight more for unnecessary things. The youth league has since taken a shape of the mother body when it is not supposed to. I think the biggest problem of the youth league is also to align themselves with mother body teams without first focusing on their congress. Already the squabbles between the two teams campaigning for party positions are not looking good for the party. What is very important is for the electoral board to ensure that it runs fair and free elections. It should not take sides so that the members trust them,” Mokaloba said. He said the party could not afford to keep on postponing the congress as it happened before due to allegations of election rigging.
The congress was postponed from April to May after some members complained about lack of transparency, fairness and the way the delegates are being registered. "The congress will now be held at a later date to be announced in due course. It is common knowledge that the central committee has instituted an investigation whose outcome might affect the good standing of congress. There are also some complaints, which we are currently looking into. The current BNFYL central committee aims to deliver a seamless congress whose outcomes will reflect the wishes of our youth," said Kago Mokotedi, the current BNFYL transition team chairman. Currently, members who are campaigning for the BNFYL positions are divided among the two candidates for the party presidency, which are current president Boko and presidential aspirant, Molatlhegi. The BNFYL plays a major role in the mother body elections as it constitutes some delegates by virtue of being in the youth league.