BDP Mogoditshane Chair Face Chop
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 17, 2018 12:00
In a letter dated September 13, 2018, the BDP region secretary Obakeng Kgabo states that: “Mogoditshane branch members being referred to as concerned members have on several occasions written to the regional committee requesting that the branch chairperson be removed and on the 28/08/2018 follow up correspondence made by the same branch members. A hearing has been held by the regional committee on the 10/09/18 to consider a number of concerns regarding the fitness or ability of the chairperson to discharge his duties”.
Some of the reasons for the removal of the chairperson according to the letter include lack of consultation with the branch committee. Mmolawa is accused of putting his interest first than that of the party.
The letter says on many occasions Mmolawa would make decisions on his own without consulting other members. Instead, Kgabo says the chair consults suspended parliamentary candidate Tshepang Mabaila only.
“The chairperson calls BDP meetings without knowledge of other members. Recently he arranged BDP rally, which was poorly attended, without involving the branch members (in an opposition held constituency). He called off the meeting of the Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) which was scheduled to train election officers saying he was not properly informed and that he wants to be notified by a letter,” read the letter in part.
Mmolawa was also accused of favouritism. The regional committee said after listening to the complaints, they concluded that the following offences were committed per the general code of conduct of the party, amongst which are: behaving in a grossly disorderly and unruly manner that put the party name in dispute; sowing seeds of discord in the party, using regionalism, tribalism or factionalism; contemptuous behaviour towards party leadership and other members; persistently and without just cause undermining the respect for or impending the smooth functioning of party structures and engaging in organised factional activity that goes outside the recognised norms of free debate inside the party and threatens its unity.
The letter ordered that Mmolawa be removed from holding party office and/or position of responsibility as a chairperson with immediate effect to allow a smooth functioning of the branch by other members who have the interest of the party first.
Efforts to speak to Mmolawa hit a snag.