Gaborone Bonnington South delegates barred from voting
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 11, 2022 06:00
Over the weekend, delegates from the Gaborone Bonnington South constituency were barred from taking part in the Gaborone region congress because of the dispute in the area.
The issues arose as both teams supporting the area Member of Parliament (MP) Christian Greef and Alfred Madigele could not agree on the delegates submitted to the congress.
Currently, the constituency is divided between Greef and Madigele. Madigele is expected to challenge Greef in the impending party Bulela Ditswe primaries. The two teams do not see eye to eye. “It is true we have suspended delegates from the two teams from taking part in the congress because they were differing over the issue of delegates.
Only the MP and councillors were able to vote at the regional congress while delegates from both teams were rejected. This matter will be dealt with by the new region committee together with the Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) in order to resolve the matter. As PEEC we have dealt with the one concerning the election of three wards, which we made ruling on it and it seems there is an issue again on the other three wards pertaining to their elective congress,” PEEC chairperson Alec Seametso said in an interview on Tuesday.
He said the way the situation had played itself out over the weekend shows that members cannot resolve the matter on their own and therefore, there is a need for them and the region to intervene. According to the PEEC chairperson, they need to find out if indeed the party procedure was followed when electing the wards that they have not made a ruling on and where they could have erred. Seametso said when they have resolved the matter, then members will be forced to abide by the decision made by the PEEC and the region.
Further adding that failure to do so, then the party will have to take action against those members who keep on acting in a manner that tarnishes the image of the party. On June 22, 2022, PEEC secretary Kabo Morwaeng wrote to the outgoing branch committee that it remains their considered opinion that congresses held in Marulamantsi ward, Bophirima ward and Mosekangwetsi ward are legitimate and stand. He said the way the members behaved indeed showed that there is no peace in the constituency and that the constituency operates through two teams. “This serves to request the branch to continue with ward elections in Morula ward, Difetlhamolelo ward, Kgale ward, the Women’s Wing and the Youth Wing.
We are concerned with any meetings wishing to discuss ward elections outside the normal party structure and procedure. The regional committee as far as PEEC is concerned is the supervising structure of the branch and their resolutions must be abided by,” Morwaeng said. The members believe that some people who were not in good terms with the area MP had taken advantage of the situation and they are the ones fueling those differences. “It is time that Madigele and Greef teams are advised to desist from attacking each other and dividing the members. The party also need to address some issues that had long been raised on members failing to cooperate with each other,” a source said.
For his part, incumbent MP, Greef was not worried about the latest machinations indicating that the constituency was still intact despite the latest invasions.
Madigele could not comment on the developments when quizzed in an earlier enquiry as the BDP is far from opening for Bulela Ditswe primaries where individuals openly canvass for support.