BMD Youth League Congress Goes Ahead Despite Mangole�s Efforts To Stop It
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday May 2, 2017 16:22
The BMD secretary general, Gilbert Mangole, had prior to the congress sought police intervention to stop it, but at total of 42 out of the 57 constituencies turned up for the congress.
The congress went ahead and its former youth league president, Phenyo Segokgo, dissolved the one he was sitting in and endorsed the new youth league.
Segokgo’s youth league term ends this month.
However it still remains unclear whether the BMD would be run by two youth leagues or not.
The main contention of the youth were that BMD national working committee (NWC) does not have the power to postpone youth congress and that it should get instructions from national executive committee (NEC).
Surprisingly the congress went ahead without the out-going youth league and the team, which is regarded as Nehemiah Modubule/Gilbert Mangole’s team. It is yet to be seen whether the mother body or other youth league that was led by Segokgo will challenge the decisions taken over the weekend in court.
Although Mangole said the congress is illegal and they would not recognise it as mother body, the party president Ndaba Gaolathe on the other hand endorsed it.
“We had written to the police to stop the congress from going ahead. NWC had agreed that the congress should be postponed,” Mangole said in an interview.
Gaolathe, however, encouraged the youth to always protect the party and its constitution.
“This is the real BMD. I encourage members to stand for their party. Our Movement is stronger than before. The youth committee that would be elected will be the new youth league, which will take our party somewhere. Let’s stand for the truth, read and understand the party constitution. You are the ones who can direct the party. party congress is the supreme body not individuals,” Gaolathe said.
The newly elected committee include president, Jacob Kelebeng, his deputy Gaone Majere, secretary general, Lame Segokgo, treasure general, Amantle Moeti, deputy treasure general, Oemelenna Dipogiso, national organising secretary, Legodile Mothibi and policy director, Gabriel Maswibilili.