BPF congress exposes entrenched divisions
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday May 2, 2023 06:00
The party held its congress over the weekend against the will of Khama’s faction. Of the nine respondents in the case, only James Kgalajwe showed up. Despite reports that the party is financially strained and failing to meet its obligations, the congress painted a different picture. Equally, though the court only gave the green light to the congress last week Wednesday, Butale would the following day announce the congress venue as Rainbow School in Gaborone. In addition to renting the seemingly expensive huge hall and other school facilities, the party brand was visible all around the school. Seemingly new banners and other signage material could be seen at the entrance of the school, on the driveways, and even inside the hall. Every arriving member was afforded a meal, from engaged caterers. They would then advance to get free t-shirts while registering to enter the congress venue. Interestingly, there was no sight of any t-shirt with Khama’s face as has been a norm at BPF gatherings, rather the t-shirts which were given to every attendant, bore Butale’s face. While the programme stated that Khama would greet the party members telephonically during the first day of the congress, it never happened as they stated he had gone to the gym.
The attendants of the congress were just a handful with some even stating: “We were brought here with a combi from Mochudi. We were just somewhere drinking and dancing when they asked us to come promising us food and free t-shirts.” While Butale emphasised that his court victory which also enforced suspension of Tshekedi Khama, Vuyo Notha, Robert Mariba, and Prince Bosilong would bring unity, he acknowledge there are humps on the way to taking power. “As delegates are aware, in the past few weeks our great party has been the reference point of dissension and turbulence.
However, as I stand before you today, I stand with the words of Nelson Mandela etched into my heart, inspiring me to implore each one of us to begin our journey of impact with change,” he said. “A change towards unity, a change to move forward in solidarity and singleness of purpose. So, I earnestly call upon each of us, patriots, to re-instil in ourselves the values that brought us together and bestowed upon us the wisdom to form this cluster of patriotism. We each have a role to play in representing the BPF to the nation we seek to represent as a ruling party come 2024. Let our representation reflect positively on our objectives and aspirations for the nation we love so dearly.” Butale assured members that a week from now the BPF will be a stable front cruising on steady waters. “Be assured, delegates, that my resolution and commitment to the founding purpose of our movement remains unwavering. There is no illusion as to where we are headed as a party. There is, however, a delusion that we will not get there. That the status quo will be an everlasting constant. To that, I say, ‘E chaile!’ “We should now go back to our respective wards and constituencies with a renewed sense of purpose and urgency to evolve this land into a legacy our descendants will be proud to inherit,” he said.
The former Tati West legislator said the BPF led by him is now seized with the sole objective of preparing the party for governance through synergies with other like-minded organisations. “Whereby the collective of our political parties that share the common vision of progressive regime change in 2024, is seeking to emancipate Batswana from the unbearable despair that has been inflicted on the country by the Botswana Democratic Party,” he said.