GUS-led task team wraps up F/town investigations
Chakalisa Dube | Friday March 31, 2017 16:46
President Ian Khama ordered an investigation following complaints from several party members that the elections were characterised by unfairness and violence. Findings and recommendations of the task team will hopefully be submitted to Khama before the end of next week.
The task team was initially billed to start its job last week, but could not do so because of the party National Council that was held in Gaborone.
Gaotlhaetse ‘GUS’ Matlhabaphiri, who is a former Cabinet member, Kgalagadi South Member of Parliament (MP) Frans van der Westhuizen and the party executive secretary, Merapelo Moloise interviewed people as part of a fact-finding mission by the task team.
Current Francistown region chairman, Moemedi Medupi told Mmegi yesterday that Members of Parliament of constituencies that make up the Francistown region have so far been interviewed.
Over 25 witnesses lined up at the party region offices to record statements.
Among those who were interviewed at press time yesterday were Otto Masogo, Raoboy Mpuang, James Kgalajwe and Kudzani Tobokwani who confirmed that they have complained to the party. Chairpersons and secretaries of the five branches that make up the Francistown region were also interviewed.
Masogo was allegedly beaten for questioning the legitimacy of some delegates at the congress. The incident became the highlight of the congress as the Police were called in to calm the situation.
The past immediate committee that headed the Francistown South was also interviewed. The committee is made up of five members and was led by Seabelo Matikiti. Ward secretaries from Francistown West, South and West were also summoned for questioning.
Botho Ntirang and Tsotso Segona who coordinated the elections were also questioned.
When Mmegi visited the regional office yesterday morning while the questioning was still on, Medupe said, “Everything is going on smoothly. We were asked by the deputy secretary general to facilitate for the task team to carry out this mandate (investigations) and we believe we have done our part with merit”.
Apart from those who were giving evidence, the BDP regional office was flooded by dozens of supporters belonging to both Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Cabinet minister, Nonofo Molefhi camps.
Masisi and Molefhi are expected to battle it out for the party chairmanship position in three months’ time at the party congress in Tonota.
On the ground, Molefhi’s supporters maintained that investigations are just part of the underhand tactics by their opponents to call fresh elections. Molefhi’s team pulled a Houdini act by winning all executive positions at the regional congress.
Both Molefhi and Masisi are working tirelessly to gain control of vital party organs in order to solidify their bid for the party’s chairmanship of the party. Both men hold aspirations to be presidents. For this reason, they want to use the position of chairmanship as a springboard to the presidency.
The party’s regions will decide who should be chairman at the party’s July congress.