BPF peace lies with Butale, CoA appeal - UB expert

Lebogang Mosikare | Monday August 14, 2023 06:00

FRANCISTOWN: For several weeks the country has witnessed two bitter BPF factions, one led by Butale and another by Mephato Reatile battle for the soul and heart of the BPF.

The BPF and Butale have not enjoyed relative peace ever since the latter ascended to the presidency of the party after its formation on the eve of the 2019 General Election following an acrimonious relationship between former president Ian Khama and his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Butale was once suspended by the BPF pending disciplinary hearing for allegedly sexually abusing a female party activist amongst other reasons. But his suspension was later lifted as a measure of bringing unity between the party factions. No formal charge was laid against Butale ever since the sexual abuse allegation became public knowledge.

The BPF has, however, never known peace ever since Butale’s initial suspension. Instead, peace has arguably eluded the BPF ever since its formation. Accusations and counter accusations between the rival BPF factions became the order of the day.

As it was to be expected, suspensions and counter suspensions between members of the rival BPF factions gained traction. In summation, these unending BPF internal troubles led the BPF to the perilous state it currently finds itself in; the expulsion of Butale as the president of the BPF and Reatile’ subsequent rise as the president of the party. Following the Reatile faction's recent High Court victory, which may be shortlived if Butale’s appeal at the country’s apex court is successful, analysts are of the view that tensions within the BPF will escalate further. Observers add that peace will elude the BPF for as long as Butale is at the helm of the party.

The Reatile faction seems to enjoy popular support from the rank and file of the party. The faction is mostly made up of sitting councilors and legislators. Because of this ‘stronger support base’, observers add, the Butale faction does not want an elective congress to be held because it knows that it cannot match its nemesis pound for pound. Some sections of the public are of the view that Reatile is an underling of the former president Khama and he (Reatile) is doing the bidding for the former president.

The former president and patron of the BPF has publicly announced that he harbours the ambition of becoming the new BPF leader. Khama has stated that he took that decision after some BPF supporters approached him to become their next president. There is also an assertion, right or wrong, from some sections of society that the BPF could be enjoying peace if Khama was not power hungry. Before his resignation from the BPF, former Tati East legislator, Samson Moyo Guma, claimed that Khama was power hungry to which the latter responded: “Again, if that is what he said, then I am as power hungry as he is. What is it that I am refusing to let go of as I am only a patron at the moment and never been president of BPF to be able to hang on to that? The national congress is where elections are held.

It is provided for in the BPF constitution and is not any individual’s prerogative to decide on.” A political analyst at the University of Botswana (UB), Adam Mfundisi, has previously told Mmegi that politicians by nature are power hungry adding that Khama was no exception. In the middle of these protracted BPF battles, a hypothesis has been thrown around that the BPF can only attain peace and unity if Butale relinquishes the presidency of the BPF. Those who subscribe to this notion are also of the view that Butale was substantively holding the presidency of the BPF for one of the scions of the Khama royal dynasty, disqualified Member of Parliament (MP) for Serowe West, Tshekedi Khama. In addition, proponents of this assertion, say that signs were already clear that Butale was not wanted by the ‘stronger faction’ of the BPF, which is aligned to the former president Khama hence the troubles bedeviling the BPF.

The BPF has previously denied this claim. Commenting on the current problems afflicting the BPF, Professor Zibani Maundeni, a political science lecturer at the UB, said Butale is determined to fight all his battles with all his might to regain the presidency of the BPF hence his decision to appeal at the CoA. “I think that Butale is determined to fight his battles until the end. I am of the view that he thinks that fighting these battles to their conclusion is the better option. If he loses his leadership court battle against some members of the BPF top hierarchy, he should then find a new political home,” said Maundeni. Asked if there would ever be peace and unity in the BPF with Butale at its helm, Maundeni said: “It has long been clear that the BPF does not want Butale to be its leader. A win for Butale in the leadership battle of the BPF at the CoA will not solve but escalate the current problems affecting the party. In fact, a loss for Butale at the CoA will bring some semblance of stability in the BPF.”

Maundeni also said that if Khama assumes the reins of power within the BPF because it is very clear that the majority of BPF supporters (or Reatile faction) want him, the party will become peaceful and stable. However, contrary to popular thinking in the academic and political spaces, Maundeni is of the view that the former president may abandon his wish to become the next president of the BPF if Butale loses his appeal at the CoA. “I actually suspect that if Butale loses his appeal at the CoA, Khama will abandon his desire to lead the BPF. I suspect that Khama just wants Butale to be removed as the president of the BPF because the central committee of the BPF failed to do so but he (Khama) will unlikely contest to become its leader if Butale loses at the CoA,” Maundeni opined. Maundeni added: “If the BPF was to hold an elective congress, Khama will easily beat other aspiring contender(s) for the party’s presidency.”