Hostile split rocks BMD youth
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday May 5, 2015 14:36
Roger Mphafe’s team withdrew from the contest in an election marked by near fistfights as tensions between the two camps ran high. Police were called in time and again to quell outbursts between rival members at the congress in Mochudi.
Mphafe was contesting the youth league’s presidency against Phenyo Segokgo, whose camp snapped up all the seats after the former and his allies withdrew.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Mphafe confirmed pulling out of the election and said his camp did not recognise the new committee.
“I must say this, that the events that occurred in Mochudi did not start in Mochudi,” he said.
“We indeed pulled out of the race for the national executive committee as we had now reached a point where we had completely lost trust in the electoral process and its credibility.”
Mphafe said when the election season began, BMD youth branches across the country carried out meetings in order to elect the committees and delegates to represent them at the Mochudi national congress.
He said it came as a shock to his team that the then Youth League committee, which had members seeking re-election, were appointed electoral officers at these branch congresses.
Mphafe said they wrote a letter to the party’s secretary general Gilbert Mangole raising their concerns, “but the issue was not treated with the urgency it deserved”. He said they had not yet received the response.
“As we speak we are aware that others within our party are fortunate enough to be replied to within 24 hours and have their issues resolved in the wee hours of the morning,” he said.
“Having not expected the election terrain to be smooth, we decided to soldier on to Mochudi.
“It also became apparent during the campaigns that some in the party leadership had taken sides.”
Mphafe said over the weekend that his team was unhappy with the election procedures.
“The programme had indicated that elections would begin at 2pm, and they did not start until 13 hours later,” he said. Yesterday evening, Mangole rubbished Mphafe’s allegations saying he had been assigned to the congress to ensure that everything ran procedurally.
“I was assigned by BMD to be there and to ensure that things were done procedurally,” he said.
“People can label me the way they want but this will not stop me from doing the party’s work.
“We were consulting all teams throughout the election process and the other team decided to withdraw.” The BMD secretary general stressed that the new committee was recognised in line with the party’s constitution and those who do not recognise it, “that’s their opinion”.
Mangole stated that the BMD leadership would take stern action against members who insulted party elders at the congress and those whose aims were to destroy the party. “We are definitely going to take action against certain members. Our party is not going to tolerate indiscipline,” said Mangole.