Khama says no to GUS report
Ryder Gabathuse | Thursday April 6, 2017 16:10
Reports emanating from Tsholetsa House, the BDP headquarters in Gaborone, show that, “the findings of the GUS-led task force will be aborted especially in so far as it relates to the dissolution of the regional committee elected on March, 11.”
President Ian Khama recently appointed a task team led by former Cabinet minister Gaotlhaetse GUS Matlhabaphiri to investigate reports pertaining to the conduct of the party’s regional elective congress.
The party Central Committee had received a report from one of its operatives, Otto Masogo reporting that some men associated with MP Ignatius Moswaane beat him during the elective congress.
The report also prayed that Masogo’s complaint, which circumvented the newly elected regional committee led by Baemedi Medupe, be condoned. Masogo also had a complaint that he was among some party faithfuls who were denied a chance to partake in the regional elective congress although eligible.
Further to his complaints directed to the party, Masogo lodged a complaint of assault to the police.
In the turn of events, Masogo who raised a complaint to the party central committee and others close to his faction have been simply dismissed, “as a bunch of crybabies ashamed because they have lost. And now they are seeking to manipulate Khama and the party processes”.
Although the results of the GUS-led task force have not been declared official yet, Mmegi is on good authority that the disputed BDP Francistown region committee “has been retained in the interest of building unity in the region. The case for dissolution was weak and dissolving the committee on flimsy grounds would have created chaos because Francistown is a volatile region.”
Our source is adamant that this is the position that Khama has adopted this week in his attempt to return elusive peace to the volatile party region.
Khama’s alleged stance is a slap on the GUS-led task team’s face because the Masisi faction had come full force in their attempt to reportedly nullify the results of the region’s March 11 elective congress.
The Nonofo Molefhi axis were waiting with bated breath the reaction of Khama to the task team recommendations because it is apparent that the Masisi faction had taken over the functions of the party secretariat when it appointed the task team.
Mmegi has been informed that GUS who was previously a leader in the former BDP political formation known as Barata Phathi and now led by Molefhi has crossed floor to the opposite Masisi axis. He is reputed to be the pro-Masisi master strategist.
In essence, the task team that he led comprised of Kgalagadi South MP Frans van der Westhuizen and BDP executive secretary, Merapelo Moloise. Just like GUS, the duo belongs to the Masisi faction. Even the BDP deputy secretary general who wrote a letter appointing the task team, Cabinet minister Shaw Kgathi is a Masisi factionalist.
Our source had also indicated that, there is a likelihood that the party could turn its focus to those who were involved in an altercation at the elective congress and provide remedy to the situation. The feeling is that they have brought the party into disrepute.
Francistown region chairman Medupe reported yesterday that his team is focused on bringing unity to the region and indicated that they are not worried by the findings of the task team.
He confirmed President Khama’s visit on Friday, which he described as, “a normal visit to discuss party issues ahead of the BDP 37th national elective congress billed for July.”
Asked if there was no likelihood that they could be thrown out of office especially that a party faithful in Monarch South had petitioned the results of the regional elective congress, Medupe said: “Our committee is in office and we have started serving the BDP and we shall do so diligently without any fear”.
As for Matlhabaphiri, he informed Mmegi this week that he and his team have completed their assignment and handed the findings to their principal.
“Those are party issues and although we have completed our task, it’s not for the public consumption but for the party leadership who had tasked us and the findings are beneficial to the party and not the media,” he told Mmegi.