BMD members exchange blows
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday April 19, 2016 18:00
The fight revolved around the party’s women’s league, which is due to go for its elective congress on May 5 in Mahalapye.
Mmegi understands some members of the BMD’s women’s league in Gaborone North constituency attempted to hold a congress to elect a committee within the area. The committee would then have represented the area at the May 5 congress.
However, the women allegedly did not notify the BMD branch or the area MP, Haskins Nkaigwa. BMD branch chairperson for the area, Maano Thukwi called Nkaigwa and the pair went to Tsogang Primary to try and block the meeting they alleged was unprocedural and not in line with the requirements of the party’s constitution.
Thukwi told Mmegi that upon arrival, the organisers of the meeting turned hostile and called security officers to help them physically remove the chairman and Nkaigwa from the building. “We were shocked when the security officers came and pushed us outside the classroom where the congress was being held. I told them that the congress was illegal because our constitution requires that they should notify us as the branch committee and it’s the branch that should observe the elections.
“But to my surprise one security officer slapped me and hit me with a chair. I have since opened an assault case with the police,” Thukwi said. He said the MP was not beaten but insulted. “There is no way some members are going to hold illegal gatherings in the name of the party. Any party structure that is supposed to be elected, procedure is supposed to be followed. This issue is deeper than it seems because it shows that some of our members want to push agendas for certain people,” he said.
Nkaigwa confirmed the incident.
“We are really ashamed about what happened on Sunday but we had expected it. The branch chair and I learnt of this congress and its intentions on Sunday.
“Women’s league and youth league fall under the branch committee and whatever the committees want to do, they should consult the branch committee first. That was not the case,” Nkaigwa said.
Broadhurst Station Commander, superintendent Bonosi Molapisi confirmed that Thukwi had opened a case against the security officer. “We are still investigating the matter and no charges have been laid against anyone yet. Investigations will be done soon,” Molapisi said. Women’s league additional member and Phakalane councillor, Mmapula Amos said they had been organising the congress in conjunction with the branch.
“The branch was informed about this congress together with the MP. It’s only that the MP wanted it to be postponed to another week. But the branch could have told us well in time. It is true people fought because there are two cases that were reported at the police for assault,” Amos said.
The Phakalane councillor said she had hired the security officer after the league suspected that their congress might be invaded by people she declined to name.
“We have written a letter to the party secretary for him to resolve the matter,” she said.