Matlou throws in the towel

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday August 23, 2018 12:12

 

Matlou moved to take the party to court following his loss in March for the party’s parliamentary primaries candidacy. 

The BNF central committee took the resolution recently stating that the party had recently held elections in March.

Matlou wanted to challenge the Central Committee to allow the constituency to go ahead with primary elections so that constituents could choose their representative. Then, leader of Mangana regiment of Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela, Moagi Molebatsi garnered 795 votes, winning candidacy for the constituency for the BNF parliamentary primaries, while Matlou came in second with 363 votes and close behind him was Mothusi Tlhowe with 338 votes.

Matlou’s contention then was that it is not procedural for the central committee to be taking decisions to block primary elections without engaging constituents.

“The constituency is the one which has power to determine whether the primary elections should be held or not.  The party central committee can only endorse the decision taken by the constituency,” his court papers read.

Matlou said the reason why he withdrew the case was because he wants peace for the constituency and the party.

“I respect the decision of the Central Committee and my intention is to work peacefully with the current MP for us to retain the area. Remember I was his campaign manager during the by-election. I was not under any pressure to withdraw the case. That was my personal decision that I do not want to proceed with the matter anymore.”

However, the BNF in their court papers had maintained that the party Central Committee has power to take decisions on behalf of the party or constituency.