BCP Cautious About Disciplining Young Turks

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 1, 2016 16:05

The BCP Youth League (BCPYL) continues to give its motherbody sleepless nights over certain conditions they want before cooperation talks could begin.

Although the party executive recently summoned BCPYL president, Tumiso Rakgare to withdraw some statement he had made about the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) on issues regarding cooperation, it looks like they still have a long way to go.

Some of the BCPYL members appear to be against cooperation with the UDC. 

Last week, the BCPYL secretary general, Marshal Busang, released a statement in which they supported their former president Saleshando that Gomolemo Motswaledi’s report must be released. One of the inside sources said the statement might cost some of the BCPYL their membership in the party.

“Over the weekend, former BCP president Cde Gilson Saleshando addressed a political rally in Selebi-Phikwe where he is quoted as imploring the UDC ‘to release the Motswaledi report to the general public.’ Contrary to the varied reactions to such a noble call, it must be remembered that this call does start with Cde Gilson. The point of departure for the same is none other than the UDC president Duma Boko.

Boko is on record pleading, on behalf of the UDC, for Batswana to contribute to the Motswaledi Trust Account so as to enable them to carry out their own investigations into what exactly could have led to the untimely demise of the late BMD president as they did not believe that Motswaledi perished as a result of a motor accident,” the statement reads.

The statement says the BCP believes in accountability and in doing things above board.

“At this stage, it is a given, the UDC and the BCP will be cooperating, in one way or the other in the upcoming by–elections, and towards the 2019 elections. As if we are to go into any form of partnership with the UDC, we need to do so with our hands clean.

We need to be able to stand up, with our chins held up high, and our chests puffed up high with clear and innocent consciences about this issue. We cannot, and we would not be able to relentlessly defend the dirty skeletons out of the UDC closet,” it says.

Busang said it came to them as a great shock to hear many UDC leaders dismissing, with the utmost contempt, calls for the release of the Motswaledi report.

He said one UDC leader is quoted saying that Motswaledi report will not be released because the BDP is sitting on older reports that are also of public importance, whilst the other is quoted as saying those who demand the Motswaledi report must produce proof of contributions to the fund and claim a refund on their contributions.

In an interview yesterday, Busang said they made the statement collectively as the youth league and they believe their party and UDC should know their stand before negotiations start.

“The Youth League is an independent body and it doesn’t need to consult the mother body about their positions on some issues. We cannot keep on challenging the BDP to account while we don’t as opposition parties. I don’t think our position can compromise the party’s position on cooperation,” he said.

He said the UDC could have kept on updating Batswana on the progress and challenges they face Motswaledi’s report on.

Busang stressed that their call for the release of the Motswaledi’s report does not mean that they are defecting from the BCP.

“Rona gare ye gope. Re tshwanetse go gakolola party fa re dumelang gore go bothokwa teng. (We are not going anywhere. We are supposed to advice the party when the need arises).”

Meanwhile BCP vice president Kesitegile Gobotswang said though their office has not seen the statement released by their youth league, they have however heard about it.

“There is no way as the BCP we could ask the UDC to release Motswaledi’s report. That is an internal matter and we understand that it is not yet complete. How can we ask UDC to release their report when the government has failed to release reports that it made with taxpayers’ money? Gobotswang.”

“The government should release all the reports which it made. The party executive is meeting and the statement from the BCPYL will be discussed,” Gobotswang said.

After the Executive Committee meeting the party refused to divulge resolutions taken about the contentious statement.