Kweneng East wants Kebaitse suspended, barred from contesting
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 20, 2024 12:10
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the Kweneng Region has called for a re-run for the Lephephe-Lentsweletau constituency. The reason advanced for this demand is that Legojane Kebaitse has consistently shown disrespect towards the branch committee. Moreover, they had long complained to the party's Central Committee (CC) about his repeated violations of Bulela Ditswe rules and regulations. In addition, to further escalate the matter, the region is now calling for Kebaitse’s suspension from the party. This comes hard after Kebaitse won the BDP parliamentary primary election against the assistant Minister of Education, Nnaniki Makwinja with 1,358 votes against 1,032.
On the other hand, Obakeng Kgabo got 899, Masego Thantshane with 356 votes while Lenkutwane Kgopolo made away with 352 votes. A letter dated August 8, 2024, by Kweneng East constituency, regional secretary, Morebodi Jamba stated: “The region has written a letter to the CC dated July 5, 2024, recommending that from the information they gathered and deliberations, Kebaitse had on numerous occasions violated BDP’s code of primary elections. The region further noted that it was close to impossible that Kebaitse would retain the constituency for the party. This was informed by his total disrespect for the party’s structures. This divisive character will disadvantage the party.
We recommend for his suspension from the party and that he be disqualified from contesting for the primary election.” However, The Monitor has learnt that there had never been peace at Lentsweletau-Lephephe since Kebaitse won as some members of the structures did not welcome him. “The branch had long wanted him to be barred from contesting for primary election. They were not happy that he was allowed to contest hence some of those recommendations. This is unfortunate for the area. It will divide the members even further if CC could agree with the recommendation made by the region,” the source said. Moreover, the source revealed that it is shocking that Makwinja and others were allowed to appeal and their appeal was accepted when they never came to the school where results were announced. The source said all appellants never told the returning officer their intention as party procedure for appeal stipulated in the constitution of the party.