Khama endorses Ftown regional committee
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday April 12, 2017 18:00
The party president has instead confirmed the suspension of three BDP members from the Francistown West constituency and said there will be no further suspensions. The supporters allegedly engaged in a fistfight at the regional elections.
On Friday Khama addressed the Francistown region, which has been experiencing unrest in recent months.
BDP chairperson, Mokgweetsi Masisi, the secretary general, Botsalo Ntuane and women’s wing chairperson, Dorcus Makgato accompanied Khama at the meeting held in Tonota.
The regional committee elections were held in March. Some members affiliated to Masisi wanted the elections to be held citing some irregularities. Subsequently, Khama appointed a task team, led by Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, to investigate the alleged irregularities.
“The President said that findings of the task team established that there was no need for elections to be held again and gave the recently voted regional committee to go ahead with its mandate,” an insider said.
Khama is also said to have told BDP members in the region to stop the infighting and instead work closely with each even in instances where they have very vast differences.
He warned that the continued infighting among regional members could cost the party at the 2019 general elections.
In addition he is said to have expressed worry that some Members of Parliament and councillors in the region (and in other part regions) have a penchant of undermining regional structures. Khama said that such conduct is wrong and undermines the party constitution. At the meeting BDP leader allegedly reiterated his support for Masisi who is vying for the position of party chairperson.
Masisi who will battle Nonofo Molefhi for the position of chairperson at the party congress in July reportedly promised BDP members that he will engage in a clean campaign.
It is said that Masisi also urged his supporters to engage in a clean campaign in a bid to dispel infighting within the party.
Yesterday Francistown region chairperson Baemedi Medupe refused to share all the details of the meeting.
“We are glad that the committee has been given the go-ahead to start work. Our mandate will be to ensure that the region enjoys stability. I am optimistic that after the Friday meeting we will have a very strong region,” Medupe said.