Kgosidintsi steers BNFYL
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday May 30, 2022 09:41
Having appealed to the party’s central committee to appoint an independent electoral board as it doubts the independence and impartiality of the one appointed by party president Duma Boko, Team Unity led by Carter Joseph saw 13 of the 16 candidates pull out.
Resego Kgosidintsi’s Team Revival won the three contested positions together with the 13 in which they were unopposed. Kgosidintsi won the presidency by 337 to Joseph’s 26 votes.
Joseph would give a short speech at the elections conceding defeat, declaring that there is no more Team Unity or Team Revival, but only BNFYL.
Known as Petrol Bomb for her sharp tongue during rallies, Kgosidintsi is former deputy secretary-general of the BNF Women’s Wing. She takes over from Kago Mokotedi who was appointed to hold the fort temporarily following the dissolution of the last youth league. The last elected leader was Richard Khumoekae who later dumped the BNF.
The congress was postponed from April to May after some members complained about the lack of transparency, fairness, and the way the delegates were registered. It would then go ahead over the weekend amidst reservations from Team Unity members.
The congress was initially set to be held in May 2020 and was postponed indefinitely alongside that of the party central committee and the Women’s League. For a long time, there was a fierce contest between Team Unity led then by councillor Xukuri Xukuri and Team Revival led by Kgosidintsi. Xukuri pulled out.
Joseph would come to the party in early 2022 to try for the youth league’s top seat. It is expected that the youth could play a key role in determining the winner of the BNF central committee elections where Boko will be challenged by Baatlhodi Molatlhegi.
In his own words when opening the conference, Boko called on the BNF youth to be leaders wherever they are by playing an active role in growing the party. He said with a huge population, it was for the youth to be leaders in their own right.
“You are not supposed to try too hard to explain yourself when you want to contest for positions. Your deeds in the party should speak for you,” he said.
As if he was aware of the wrangling within the party, Kgosi Kgari Sechele called on the BNF youth to avoid factionalism.
“Factions should not break you. Those who are in control should not use their powers to oppress competition. That will make people see that you would not be able to be a good ruler,” he said, quickly adding that he did not suggest that there are any fights in the BNF.