BCPYL suspends Saleshando's son
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:19
In a suspension notice signed by BCPYL chairperson Thabo Malesela, the League accused Saleshando of making unilateral declarations about the student structure and calling for the dissolution of the existing Youth League leadership without following established party procedures. The notice follows Saleshando’s October 12, 2026 statement titled 'Student Position on Youth League', in which he announced that student structures would no longer fall under the BCPYL and declared the formation of the BCP Student Command as a separate structure.
The Youth League said the declarations appeared to have been made without adequate consultation or resolution through the party’s internal structures. “The League is concerned that these declarations appear to have been made without adequate consultation, engagement, or resolution through the appropriate internal structures and established party procedures,” the notice reads. The BCPYL also raised concerns over the publication of the statement on social media before the matter could be addressed internally, arguing that this risked undermining the League’s authority and cohesion. It maintained that members had the right to criticise leadership and propose reforms but insisted that such matters should be pursued through established party channels. The allegations against Saleshando include disregarding internal procedures, undermining the Youth League and potentially breaching the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and BCPYL constitutions. He has been given seven calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit a written response and will have an opportunity to participate in the disciplinary process. The League stressed that the interim suspension did not constitute a finding of guilt.
However, Saleshando has rejected the move, describing it as evidence of growing intolerance towards radicalism and reform within the Youth League. “It is sad, very, very sad, that the very auxiliary body that should normally be the most radical, militant, and reformist structure in the party has developed an intolerance for radicalism, militancy, and reform,” he said in his response. Saleshando argued that the establishment of the Student Command had been endorsed as an amendment to the BCP constitution at the party’s Francistown Constitutional Conference. He said subsequent amendments had been delayed, leaving students frustrated with what he described as the outdated placement of the student structure under the Youth League. “The establishment of the Student Command was endorsed as an amendment to the BCP constitution by the Youth League at the Francistown constitutional conference,” he said.
He also accused factions within the Youth League’s central committee of maintaining divisions that emerged during campaigns for lobby lists ahead of the Mogoditshane elective conference. Saleshando argued that the divisions had weakened the organisation and undermined its ability to support the party’s student movement. “That division, which started months ago, has rendered the Youth League ineffective because it is conflict-ridden,” he said. Despite the suspension, Saleshando welcomed what he interpreted as the notice’s recognition of his leadership of the Student Command, declaring that he would no longer serve as the Youth League Student Liaison Officer. “I shall cease to be the Youth League Student Liaison Officer and now be the Student Command Leader, a structure that shall operate alongside the other auxiliary bodies of the Botswana Congress Party,” he said. The BCPYL, meanwhile, said it remained committed to unity, accountability, constitutionalism and constructive engagement, insisting that organisational disputes should be resolved through established procedures rather than unilateral declarations. The dispute leaves the relationship between the Youth League and the student movement uncertain as the disciplinary process unfolds. Loago is the son of BCP president Dumelang Saleshando.