Greeff, Madigele constituency battle intensifies
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 4, 2022 06:00
Currently, members of the area seem to be divided between the area Member of Parliament (MP) Chris Greeff and Alfred Madigele.
Madigele, who is the former MP for Mmathethe/Molapowabojwang constituency, has now relocated to Gaborone Bonnington South constituency hence the new fight. According to reports, Greeff and Madigele will battle it out in the upcoming party primary elections expected to be held early next year.
Madigele will also be contesting for the party secretary-general (SG) position at elective congress in July this year and he will be facing current deputy SG Shaw Kgathi.
As things stand at Gaborone Bonnington South, there is a brewing fight between Greeff and Madigele supporters because both want to take control of the constituency.
Recently, Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) had to intervene when there were fights over the election of ward congresses. The constituency branch committee, which had found itself in the middle of this dispute had nullified some ward congresses. The branch committee also once raised a concern that Madigele is overlooking the committee and holding ward congresses without their input.
A letter dated June 22, 2022, written by PEEC secretary Kabo Morwaeng reads; “It is our understanding that a previous meeting was called by the regional committee on June 15, 2022.
This meeting was called to discuss assertions that the branch was indicating that it was nullifying all ward congresses held in the constituency. It is our understanding that the region resolved that all wards elections were in order and gave an instruction for the branch to meet and pave a way forward for the rest of the congresses to be held with a deadline of Wednesday, June 22, 2022. “It remains our considered opinion that congresses in Marulamantsi ward, Bophirima ward and Mosekangwetsi ward are legitimate and stand.” The letter further requested branch ward elections in Morula ward, Difetlhamolelo ward, Kgale View ward, Women’s Wing and Youth Wing. Still in the letter, Morwaeng said they are concerned about any meeting wishing to discuss ward elections outside the normal party structure and procedure.
He continued: “The regional committee as far as PEEC is concerned is the supervising structure of the branch and their resolutions must be abided by.” Gaborone Bonnington South has six wards and according to information gathered by Mmegi, Madigele has won five wards and Greeff won only one. However, this is one of the advantages that Madigele needs as he is standing for the powerful party position and therefore he needs to be nominated by the constituency he comes from.
The Branch committee is expected to hold its elective congress on Friday prior to the regional one, which will be held on Saturday. There have been divisions in the area and Madigele's strategic move might make it worse. Again there are those who believe that the move may help the party to retain the constituency. Early this year, when Madigele was asked about his interest to contest for the 2023 party primary elections known as Bulela Ditswe, he had emphasised that he respects the code of conduct of elections of the BDP, hence he could not be seen to be campaigning for something he did not raise a hand for. Meanwhile the two parties said they are not allowed to talk to the media as it is a party policy.