Hobona unchallenged in F/town West BCP primaries
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday March 11, 2014 16:19
The BCP confirmed that it has decided against holding the party parliamentary primaries in Francistown West but one of the hopefuls in that constituency is not taking things lying down.
While Itekeng Ward councillor Professor Lazarus Tlou decided to be cautious, his comrade, Baathodi Monyatsi scoffed at the decision not to hold the primaries.
“I will take a position on the matter after I have met the party leadership,” said Monyatsi told Mmegi yesterday, adding that, “My wish is for the primaries to be held. It would be undemocratic if they are not held.”
Monyatsi insisted that, “People on the ground should decide who they want to represent them at the general elections through primaries not the leadership.”
Tlou said the party notified him about the decision via phone on Saturday.
“They are yet to formally communicate their position to me in writing. After they have communicated in writing and availed all reasons for their decision that is when I can comment,” he said.
The primaries were to qualify for parliamentary candidacy for the October general elections but the party’s central committee meeting in Gaborone on Saturday decided against taking the constituency through another contest. Late last year, the constituency held primaries to decide on the candidate for the by-elections, which were won by the party’s Dr Habaudi Hobona in January. Confirming the leadership decision , the party’s secretary general, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang said: “We felt that hosting the primaries will be equal to distracting Dr Habaudi Hobona from focusing on her mandate in Parliament especially that she was recently elected into Parliament.”
He said the central committee “felt that it may be difficult for her to juggle between preparing for the primaries and establishing herself, as well as representing the party in Parliament given the limited time that she will be in parliament.”
He said the central committee has communicated the decision to all those who had intended to challenge Hobona.
The weekend development means that Hobona will represent the party at the general elections without having to go for primaries. Gobotswang also acknowledged that the party decision might not sit well with the other candidates.
“We will however send one of the party leaders to explain in detail the party position to those who wanted to challenge Hobona at the primaries. We hope that they will understand the party position,” Gobotswang told Mmegi.
Meanwhile at the weekend meeting, the party also set up a committee to investigate David Tawele’s involvement in the party activities after the 2009 general elections.
Tawele, who was councillor for Ipopeng ward prior to the 2009 elections, was late last year barred from contesting the party parliamentary primaries in Francistown South. He was to face the BCP national organising secretary, Vain Mamela for a berth at the 2014 general election.
The party had said it barred him from participating in the primaries because he had not been active in party activities after the 2009 general elections. Tawele appealed the decision.
On the matter, Gobotswang said following recommendations from independent legal advisors, a task force was set up to document and verify party activities in which Tawele took part in after the 2009 general election. The team has been given two weeks to conclude, and their investigation will inform the leadership on the way forward.
Tawele confirmed yesterday that the party has said that it will embark on a two weeks inquiry before reaching a verdict on his case.