�The Registrar erred�

Oarabile Mosikare | Wednesday May 14, 2014 15:29

In a statement to the press, PLM leader, Onalenna Chabaya said they have written to the Registrar demanding the reversal of the decision.

The Registrar of Societies, Neo Lepang, on April 16, wrote to Chabaya informing him that the movement could not be registered because its objectives did not suit those of a political party.

Chabaya disputes the validity of the reason presented by the authority as central to the decision to refuse the movement recognition.

“We, however, never applied for recognition as a political party in the first place,” said Chabaya, noting that it took five months of scrutiny and delay tactics for the government to come up with a completely irrelevant reason for thwarting “our constitutional rights to freedom of conscience, expression and association”.

He said they had clearly pointed out when they were required to expand on their objectives that theirs was a civil organisation that would not be participating in the electoral process.

 “Our modus operandi was defined as Non-violent Civil Action. The registrar therefore erred in perceiving us as a political party.”

Chabaya explained that the PLM is an organisation that sought to advocate for human rights existing in the full spectrum of the marginalised or oppressed.

“Denial of such a noble organisation the right to act freely if taken to the international stage of democracies will therefore expose Botswana as a repressive state that suppresses its civil society yet supported armed rebellions in Libya and Syria,” said Chabaya.

Chabaya asserted that it is common knowledge that this country has now been privatised through a mafia-like network of families drunk with false notions of entitlement.

“A web of protectionist security agencies have been put in place to safe guard the continued existence of a regime that forgot what the word democracy meant many decades ago.

“The real reason why the PLM was denied registration is the mere fact that we will orchestrate certain revolution if the current regime doesn’t free up the Democratic space and let the people exercise their democratic rights whenever they seek to,” said Chabaya.

He reiterated that there was no reason for them to be refused registration, as they are a peaceful organisation that uses the code of non-violence as their trademark. “We are not a rebel outfit, are not armed and never plan to do so, ours is a movement that seeks to teach the population that democracy means that the powers that be derive their power from the voluntary cooperation and assistance of the people for them to have authority,” he said.

He added that they also teach the people to never tire but instead demand recognition as the pillars of democracy because if they were to withdraw their cooperation and support for the regime, the system would collapse without any shots being fired.

“By advancing a flimsy reason for our rejection, the regime has declared itself as a dictatorial outfit. We therefore shall pursue and flush the dictators from every corner they will try to take refuge in,” said Chabaya.  He said the PLM would pursue its mandate with or without registration.

This is because they work with other organisations like opposition political parties, labour unions, gender advocates and religion based organisations.