Inside the BNF house

Staff Writer | Tuesday February 20, 2007 00:00

 

The dust started hitting the fan at the emergency central committee meeting on Saturday at the Kagisong Centre. Part of Moupo's agenda at the tryst was to announce his plans to summon an emergency party congress. Most of the 17 people who attended confirm that the president merely announced that he had decided to call a special congress. There was no vote. Some debated around the table, but it was nothing to change an executive decision made by the president.

'Of course many of the comrades differed and tried to show him that a special congress was not necessary. But this proved to be an academic exercise because Moupo came to the meeting merely to make an announcement not to entertain any vote or discussion,' said BNF secretary general Akanyang Magama adding that only the central committee or two thirds majority of the constituencies can call a special congress.

Both Magama and BNF chairman Nehemiah Modubule say that though Moupo claims he has powers to summon a special delegates congress, no such thing is in the BNF constitution. 'He does not have the powers to call congress. He is just acting unilaterally and dictatorially,' said Modubule, the Lobatse MP. 'His action is unconstitutional,' adds Magama.

 
Moupo's deputy Dr Kathleen Letshabo says she has never heard of the executive powers of the BNF president and says Moupo's decision means he thinks he is bigger than the party. 'I have not heard of executive powers that he says he has used. All I know is that he has president's powers. This is an action of someone who thinks he is bigger than the party,' said the BNF vice president.

But Moupo insists that he has powers to call a special congress. 'I have used executive powers conferred on me by BNF constitution article 19:3:3 as read together with article 11:9 in taking this decision,' Moupo said.
Article 19:3:3 says: 'The president of the BNF shall give instructions on any matter official of the BNF, or empower any member of the BNF to exercise any powers or specific function for and on behalf of the BNF or the Central Committee.'  
Article 11:9 of the BNF constitution reads: 'An extra-ordinary congress of the BNF, may be convened by the Central Committee on its own initiation, or at the request of at least two thirds of the national constituencies'.

Moupo is backed in his decision to call the congress by other central committee members who feel he has the powers. One of them is Women's Wing president Gagolepe Nthebolang. 'He has decided to call a special congress and I have no problem with it. I think this is in the interest of the party. It shall definitely help to stabilise the party. If it does not, it will be regrettable,' she said.
Joining Moupo's corner is Youth League president Nelson Ramaotwana who contends that the president's decision is binding on the central committee in the same way as the central committee decisions are binding on all its members.
'The president can decide on behalf of the central committee as he has done in this case.'
Why did Moupo decide to call a special congress using constitutional powers other than just wait for an ordinary congress in 2008? According to Moupo he has been compelled to do so.

'It was becoming very difficult to run the party. There is no cohesion in the central committee. If this situation was prolonged, we ran the danger of finding ourselves in a situation of paralysis. As a leader, you have to make difficult decisions. If you allow situations of disorder to persist, you are branded ineffective and often when you act, you are perceived to be dictatorial. You see it is difficult to be a leader. Executive powers are not used will-nilly but I have pondered over this situation very closely and I have no doubt in my mind that this is what the BNF needs,' Moupo said.

He explained that when he realised that there is no cohesion, he had to take the issue to his 'principals' - the BNF members - to decide. 'I know very well that the congress might decide to retain the central committee or elect a new committee but I am happy to live with that decision. I am not afraid of the BNF judgement,' he said.
Asked whether he was happy that in a short space of time he had used executive powers three times.

'With the benefit of hindsight I have realised Koma has saved the BNF by using his executive powers.'Moupo said paying tribute to Koma.
 Dorcus Mothusi a BNF central committee member is one of those that think Moupo is making a mountain out of a mole-hill.
'I do not know what crisis he is talking about. I have consistently attended central committee meetings and I have never seen any indication of a crisis.'
Letshabo thinks that there is a discernible pattern with Moupo. Every time he has a problem that has nothing to do with the BNF, he calls party forums to discuss what are to all intents and purposes personal woes. She says the BNF is where it is basically because there are two opposing views.

'There are those in the party who feel there is are ethical standards that should not be crossed while others believe that there is nothing wrong if a popular leader goes below these sets of standards. To them if the leader is popular, he should do as he pleases. Even if the leader is incompetent, it does not matter,' she says. She explains that this is the source of current problems in the BNF.

To Magama, Moupo is behaving less and less like a cadre who was drilled in the BNF ethos of self-criticism and democratic centralism but more as a unilateralist.
'He is obviously getting wrong advice,' adds Modubule.
The quartet of Magama, Letshabo, Modubule and Mothusi say Moupo should have allowed BNF constituencies to state whether they want a special congress or not.
'We had started touring BNF's 10 regions and at the two regions that we have addressed, people told us in unambiguous terms that we should strive for party unity in Kanye and Gaborone. Where the issue of special congress was raised, delegates made it very clear that they do not want a special congress. If the idea of a special congress could have been a popular mandate in at least half the regions, Moupo's proposition would at least make sense but as it is, it has no basis. His special congress directive is disruptive as we are currently in the middle of by-election campaigns and national tours. Now instead of doing these, we will now be forced to be spending our energies on the special congress. I think our party will do badly in the by-elections and Moupo does not seem to care,' said Modubule.
While some central committee members feel aggrieved by Moupo's action, they say they will not challenge him. 'We could of course go to court and challenge him and he will of course lose badly but we have decided to do his bidding. We will go to the congress,' Modubule said.

Between now and the congress, what is going to happen in the polarised BNF central committee? 'We will carry on our assignments on national recruitment and touring of regions and by-elections of course. Everyone in the party has an assignment except Moupo whose only interest is to win elections and do nothing,' said Letshabo. She added that she is yet to decide whether she will contest the elections.
'In the meantime, I will continue with party work but I will definitely defend my position as the secretary general of the party,' said Magama.
Both Modubule and Moupo say they have not decided whether they will contest.
But one thing is clear: The special congress will be held within 90 days from the date of the announcement. Will it be earlier or just at the end of the 90 days?
'I do not know I am yet to decide but what I can promise you is that it will be within the time frame provided under the constitution,' Moupo said.