Team Bucs 'neglects' BNF membership procedure
Mompati Tlhankane | Tuesday July 19, 2022 06:00
Boko and Molatlhegi are currently contesting for the BNF presidency at the party’s ongoing elective congress at Ba Isago University.
Speaking yesterday during the congress opening, Boko said Team Bucs, Molatlhegi’s campaign side, brought 100 forms from Bobonong on the eve of the BNF Women’s League congress.
“They wanted the office to register members in time for the congress, but the forms had to be assessed first and that is the procedure,” he said. He added there is a procedure to be followed when one asks for BNF membership. Boko further revealed that the reason the forms were rejected was that they were not signed by the constituency or region. He said the forms were signed by an activist and therefore could not be processed for membership. “These forms caused chaos and led us to the courts. This was a straightforward issue and should not have led us there,” he said. Boko added no one including himself, has the power to reject membership applications.
He said that if all BNF members could know and understand their party’s constitution then court matters would be avoided.
“I stand by the BNF constitution. I am guided by the constitution and I am a person of procedure. We were in the courts and it became clear that what we did as the leadership was the procedure. I am not trying to punish or coerce anyone. Since I took over the BNF I have defended the party six times and I always use the constitution as an arsenal. We have never lost any of the court cases,” he said. He pointed out that they are trying to build the BNF brand, but some members go out of their way to stain and disparage the party.
Boko said Team Bucs “members made noise and tarnished the party’s image”. He said members should not take party issues to the public or the courts, but rather issues should be resolved internally.
Last week, Gaborone High Court judge, Gabriel Komboni dismissed an application brought by two BNF members, Kgakgamatso Kebiditswe and Tlamelo Mpodi.
The duo, who belong to Team Bucs, had taken the BNF to court seeking amongst others an interdiction on grounds that due process was not followed when electing delegates for the lower structures and interdiction for the congress that was scheduled for June 6 by the party’s central committee.
They further wanted the court to set aside any decision taken by the central committee on the party’s 2022 national congress.
Dismissing the application, Komboni said BNF had not breached its constitution nor regulations in any way and neither had it breached the rights of its members as alleged. The judge said there was no evidence before the court to support such allegations of rights being violated and constitutional breach. Yesterday at the congress’ official opening, Molatlhegi was not present but some of his team members were seen at the gathering. On Thursday, Molatlhegi told the media in a briefing that they might interdict the party’s elective congress.
“We are still consulting with the attorneys regarding the outcome of this week’s court case on whether they stand a good chance for appeal or not,” he said last week.