Butale defies BPF's threat
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday September 12, 2023 06:00
Over the weekend, Butale convened a gathering in Gaborone, drawing supporters adorned in the party's trademark yellow attire and presenting himself as both a member and the president of the BPF.
This follows the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) having issued a cease and desist notice through their legal representatives, JJ Matomela Attorneys, to stop Butale's claim as the BPF president. In the letter dated September 6, 2023, addressed to Butale's attorneys at Kole Law Practice, the BPF NEC pointed out Butale's awareness of a court judgment by Justice Zein Kebonang, affirming the lawfulness of his expulsion from the BPF.
"Despite knowledge of the judgment of Justice Kebonang and the pending review proceedings before Justice Boipuso Makhwe, your client continues to use BPF colours, pictures, and logo for his gatherings.
Your client continues to contract with third parties for services in the name of the BPF, and he does this without authorisation of the BPF," the letter stated. The BPF expressed concern that Butale had advertised a gathering scheduled for September 9 in Gaborone. While acknowledging Butale's constitutional rights of association and expression, the party contended that his use of BPF's logo, colours, and symbols at his gathering constituted an infringement on the party's rights and interests.
"Not only is your client engaging in deceptive advertising using the colours, symbol, and logo of the BPF, but he is also actually engaging in unlawful self-help and constructive contempt of the proceedings before Makhwe. We are instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that your client immediately cease from his deceptive marketing using the symbols, picture, and logo of the BPF for his gathering scheduled on September 9, 2023," the letter further stated. In their attempt to resolve the matter, the BPF sought an undertaking from Butale to cease his "offensive and unlawful conduct" by the close of business on September 6. Failure to comply would result in the initiation of contempt proceedings and a request for a restraining order against Butale, with costs to be borne by him.
Undeterred by the threat, Butale pressed ahead with his gathering, maintaining his position as a BPF member and president, with his followers donning party regalia with his image.
Addressing his supporters, Butale acknowledged that many BPF members were formerly affiliated with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and had grown disgruntled.
He recounted the party's early days in Serowe and his determination to remove the BDP from power. Despite some members suggesting his stepping aside, he refused, marking the beginning of internal tensions. Butale opted not to dwell on the party's internal issues, choosing instead to focus on the path forward. He stressed the BPF's commitment to improving the lives of Botswana citizens, asserting that they believed it was a divine assignment to uplift the nation and the entire African continent.
Regarding the reported resistance against his gathering, Butale expressed curiosity, stating, "I heard some people were told not to come here. I wonder what they are afraid of so much that they tell BPF members not to come here. I told them that if they put BPF before the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), maybe I could consider welcoming them into the party." Concluding his address, Butale expressed his opposition to the idea of the BPF joining the UDC, suggesting that a political pact would be more effective than a coalition.