No one will intimidate the judge—Butale
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday October 10, 2022 12:38
Phuthego will tomorrow deliver his ruling on the matter in which ‘acting’ president and BPF vice president, Caroline Lesang made an urgent application for the court to interdict Butale from presenting himself as the BPF president.
Butale held a press conference just before the Independence holiday to announce his return to the BPF top seat after a long suspension, a move which was not welcomed by Lesang. Upon his return, Butale led the NEC which made major decisions amongst others reversing some suspensions and postponing the elective congress that was slated for the end of this month.
The Butale-led NEC also suspended presidential hopeful Samson Moyo Guma, BPF spokesperson Lawrence Ookeditse and Ford Moitela. In the urgent application before the Lobatse High Court on Friday, Lesang wanted the court “to declare meetings so convened by Butale during the period of this suspension (previous and prospective) as null and void and of no force and effect”.
She also wanted the court to declare the meetings so convened by Butale to be unlawful as per the party’s regulations. “I trust that no one will intimidate or coerce the judge who is handling this case. He will make a fair ruling and take things as they are. After he makes this ruling, we will continue with party duties,” Butale told BPF congregants at a rally in Palapye on Saturday.
This was Butale’s first public rally since he returned from suspension. Butale’s comments come at a time when the country’s Judiciary is already in turmoil over allegations of meddling and capture.
Last month, Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe claimed that Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane and the Minister of State, Kabo Morwaeng allegedly tried to influence him to rule against Lobatse legislator, Thapelo Matsheka in a case he sought freedom from prolonged detention. Last week another bombshell was dropped when Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Bamalete revealed that President Mokgweetsi Masisi interfered with the Judiciary in the Malete Land Board vs. the Balete tribe in the Forest Hill 9KO farmland case.
“BPF is back, your president is back so the winds that have been trying to push it over are now over. We have started this journey towards 2024 and we are relentless. No one is going to lose focus,” Butale further told the BPF members in Palapye. Butale who has made it clear that he is not against the BPF’s decision to join the opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, added that they are going to work with opposition parties.
“If we break apart then we give Masisi more ammunition to lie to Batswana,” he said. Butale said they will target BDP members as they embark on their recruitment drive. He emphasised that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members will burn their membership cards the same way they did in 2019 when they left the ruling party for BPF.
Butale whose return is backed by BPF patron, Ian Khama said they will also push a campaign for the return of the former president who is currently in self-exile in South Africa. “Khama has told me to inform you that he is still a valuable member of the BPF and will never forget about BPF members. Now we are asking those who are threatening him to stop. Our hashtag is #BringBackKgosiKgolo,” he highlighted. Butale said Khama has also dismissed rumours that he (Khama) is considering joining another party.