Butale cracks whip upon return
Mompati Tlhankane | Tuesday October 4, 2022 11:57
Butale, who was suspended by the party last year, has begun his second tenure at the BPF by making a lot of changes among others suspending BPF spokesperson Lawrence Ookeditse, presidential aspirant Samson Moyo Guma, and former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Francistown South branch chairperson, Ford Moiteela. Butale, who is backed by BPF patron and former president Ian Khama has suspended members from team Guma amid tensions currently rocking the BPF.
The decisions were taken yesterday by the national executive committee (NEC) of the BPF.
The NEC resolved to suspend the trio from the BPF for 90 days pending a disciplinary hearing. “This suspension is with immediate effect and is on the basis of your continued violation/contravention of Clauses 6.1.5 of the BPF constitution as well as your disdain and disrespect towards members of the NEC and the decisions of the NEC. You were cautioned against such conduct and you opted to continue in a contemptuous manner to the NEC. Pursuant to this and as part of the resolution, the NEC has referred your case to the Disciplinary Committee for a hearing and possible action for such conduct,” read the suspension letters from BPF secretary-general, Tshekedi Khama.
The NEC convened under the chairpersonship of Butale also warmly welcomed him back to his position. During the period of their suspensions Guma, Ookeditse and Moiteela will be barred from organising and engaging in any BPF activities and identifying themselves as representatives of the BPF. The NEC has also been instructed to return all party material in their possession, including letterheads. The Butale-chaired NEC meeting also lifted recent suspensions of the deputy secretary-general of the Youth league, secretary of labour affairs of the Women’s league, chairperson of the central region, and publicity secretary of the Women’s league, unconditionally. The NEC also resolved that the elective congress slated for the end of October be postponed to February/March 2023 and a national conference be held on November 25–27 and be followed by a star rally in Tonta. Another decision is that Women and Youth leagues should hold their congresses before the national conference.
The NEC also determined that the party continues with its negotiations with the Umbrella for Democratic Change and that a clear position paper would be presented to the party congress for its ratification.