How Mabaila landed in hot soup
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday August 17, 2018 13:29
Some contestants believed that all his supporters’ membership cards were easily processed at the party headquarters while they struggled to have theirs done.
Moreover, the youthful former army man had support from party leadership, more so that he was using his Mabaila Foundation to campaign.
Some BDP members who had long had interest in contesting for Mogoditshane MP seat felt that Khama imposed Mabaila in their area.
This brought tension amongst BDP members in the area. Endless letters of complaints to the party leadership seem to be of no avail.
Mabaila Foundation was seen as a campaign tool, which the MP candidate was accused of using even before the party has ordered the candidates to do so.
“Mabaila was never welcomed by certain people who had long had an eye for contesting, especially some members who claim that they long worked hard for the constituency.
“This is just an excuse to suspend him because if he had committed an offence last year, why didn’t the party act then than wait until now?” wondered a Mabaila supporter. “What kind of influence does he have on MPs because he is not sitting in any structure? Poor Mabaila happens to be a collateral damage in a fight between Khama and President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“His ambition to represent Mogoditshane during the next year general elections is over. He won’t survive the disciplinary hearing. This pseudo charges are also a ploy to block his bid to contest for youth wing elections next year February,” the source added. Another source said the situation was worsened by the fact that Mabaila never hid his admiration for Khama who he looks up to as a father, the thing that angered his detractors.
The source said the plot to suspend Mabaila has long been hatched, but it intensified two weeks back after some MPs were forced to make statements against him that he influenced them to vote in the motion of no confidence against Masisi. Another source said the intention of some members of party central committee is that Mabaila should not be allowed to contest for general elections. “They are going to influence disciplinary hearing to find him guilty and he might be suspended for years like the late Gomolemo Motswaledi,” the source said.
In a letter dated August 7, 2018 delivered to him, Masisi reminded him of “your utterances to Hon Dr Alfred Madigele and Sethomo Lelatisitswe on 10th July, 2018 and letters addressed to the secretary general from the branch secretary dated 3rd December 2017 and 2nd August 2018”. Masisi said that it is alleged that Mabaila has committed offences against the rules and regulations and General Code of Conduct of the ruling party.
However political analyst, Anthony Morima said it would be unfortunate for BDP to charge a person on offence that he is alleged to have done last year because principle of natural justice dedicates that charges should be brought within a reasonable time.
He said natural justice applies even in the political parties. “Now it brings suspicion that there has been a witchhunt against him. The party could have acted the time the branch wrote a letter to them in 2017. The charge for 2017 against him is not reasonable at all.
“The only charge that stands is the 2018 one that they allege that he was influencing MPs to vote against BDP on a motion of no confidence against President. That one on its own warrant an expulsion or suspension from a party,” Morima said. He said if it is true Mabaila did so, then it is a disciplinable offence. Morima added that if indeed Mabaila did what BDP allege, then they would have to bring evidence to prove their case against him.