Lenyatso claims ignorance on BPP suspension
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday July 30, 2019 17:11
The BPP is an affiliate of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Lenyatso is a parliamentary candidate for Francistown West. Late last week the BPP announced that it has suspended Lenyatso along with the party’s parliamentary candidate for Tati East Mathodi Modisapodi.
“I have not received the suspension letter. I have only heard through the grapevine that I have been suspended,” he said.
“I am busy campaigning on behalf of the UDC. The UDC has given me programmes to run in relation to my campaigns in Francistown West. I do not want to fail the opposition coalition. Even if the BPP suspends me I will continue with UDC activities. The UDC has mandated me to contest in Francistown West. They are the ones who can stop me from running campaign programmes,” he said.
There are reports that some central committee members of the BPP are against the suspension of Lenyatso and Modisapodi.
It has been reported that secretary general Venter Galetshabiwe and the BPP president Motlatsi Molapisi sanctioned the suspension.
Lenyatso was slapped with suspension over allegations that during a recent meeting to resolve the allocation of the wards in Francistown West impasse, he used his influence within the party (BPP) to strongly advocate for some of the wards to be allocated to the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana National Front (BNF), contrary to the position of many within the party (BPP), particularly the president and the secretary general.
Insiders within the BPP have alleged that Lenyatso does not have faith in some council candidates from his party and believes that they can dent his prospects of winning the general elections.
During the recent meeting the BPP was given Tatitown and Botsalano ward. The BCP got three wards, Moselewapula, Kanana and Monarch South. The BNF got Monarch North. The BPP wanted four wards.
Modisapodi who was not readily available for comment was suspended on allegations that she misled UDC president Duma Boko to believe that BPP was only interested in at least four wards in the Tati East constituency instead of nine of the 10 wards in the area.
The BPP subsequently got four wards to contest at the next general elections. It is said that Modisapodi does not have faith in the abilities of some BPP members, which is why she advocated for more wards in the area to be allocated to some BCP and BNF activists that she perceives as stronger.