Rari undecided on re-election bid
Chakalisa Dube | Monday April 8, 2024 06:00
In 2021, Rari secured a fourth term after defeating Innocent Mannathoko, Sekgwama Gobusamang and Wabo Tshosa at the union’s elective congress held in Palapye. He had previously indicated his reluctance to seek another term in an interview with Mmegi. However, this week he remained non-committal when pressed on whether he plans to step down when his term elapses in four months or seek a fifth term.
He said discussions within the union about cadre deployment are ongoing, hence his hesitation to declare whether he is contesting or not.
“The issue of contesting or not, I need to be given more time as I am still consulting about it. I am currently consulting people within the union, some stakeholders, and my family. With us, people get deployed as a cadre and those discussions are ongoing and as such, I am not able to say whether I will be contesting or not,” Rari stated in a written response to Mmegi.
There are reports that some within the union want Rari to contest for yet another term. In addition, Rari has in the past dismissed the notion of imposing term limits or preventing individuals from contesting based on their tenure, asserting that democracy thrives on healthy competition. He emphasised his belief in upholding democratic principles, advocating for open competition in leadership positions.
“I don’t believe in curtailing the freedom of people to contest the election on the basis that they have served for a long time and therefore, they should be prevented from standing. I believe that democracy allows that there be competition amongst individuals. If there are young Turks who are coming up, they should come into the playing field and prove themselves, compete with the incumbents and then beat them because they are providing quality,” he said. Although Rari has often been credited for helping the union accumulate fluid and fixed assets that greatly benefitted ordinary members, his fourth term was full of turbulence. Some union members took him to court arguing that he deliberately altered a constitutional clause, resulting in the fabrication of a resolution during a national congress in 2014, the highest decision-making body within the union, to prolong his stay.
In response, Rari filed a counter application with the court, seeking to nullify the writ of summons issued by the aggrieved individuals, deeming it irregular and improper. He cited Order 61, Rule 8 of the High Court rules, which he contended the quartet violated. The rule stipulates that when contesting a decision, one must initiate review proceedings within four months.
The court ruled in favour of Rari. The BOSETU National Executive Committee (NATEX) elections will be held on August 31, 2024 at the elective congress. Members who are interested in contesting the elections are to have submitted their names for nomination before the end of April.