BMD headed for split
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday May 3, 2017 16:35
The youth league congress was held despite BMD national working committee (NWC) recommendation that it should be postponed. Following their failure to halt the weekend congress which was attended by 42 of the 57 constituencies, the national executive committee members led by chairman, Nehemiah Modubule and secretary general, Gilbert Mangole called a press conference yesterday where they talked tough, threatening disciplinary action against Gaolathe and his supporters. The duo and their team said they did not recognise the elected youth league leadership and have lost confidence in Gaolathe.
“This elected youth league is illegal. We do not recognise it as the motherbody. I am disappointed that some party leadership, especially party president Ndaba Gaolathe, vice president Wynter Mmolotsi, youth league president Phenyo Segokgo and Joyce Mothudi were part of this illegal gathering. These four people sit on NWC and they were there when it agreed with reasons advanced by BMD national executive committee”. Mangole said. He said the BMD national executive committee (NEC) will meet on May 6 to decide on the youth league congress. He continued; “As far as we are concerned the party will organise the youth league congress not the one which was done by few friends. For us to hold one, branches will have to forward minutes of the congress or meeting and names of delegates”. The newly elected members of the youth league will not be allowed to sit at the NWC or NEC.
The secretary general admitted that their factional fights are the ones that led to postponement of the youth league congress because they could not assist the youth with funds they needed.
He said the league needed P126,000 to run the congress, but Ndaba had offered to give them only P50,000. “For the past two years, this man (Gaolathe) has failed to lead the party. He has been by-passing the party constitution. This time around Gaolathe and his company have crossed the red line. The party cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour where members do not want to follow the laid down procedures of the constitution,” Modubule fumed.
He continued that after Ghanzi congress, Gaolathe allegedly failed to welcome the newly elected committee, but rather chose his friends whom he worked with outside the motherbody committees.
“I have lost confidence in him. He has failed as a leader. The leader does not divide his children. Party constitution should be abided by all. We are going to take stern action against all members who attended this congress.”
Also under attack were the Botswana Federation of Public Private Parastatals Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) leaders, whom Mangole said should stop interfering.
“BOFEPUSU leadership are our friends in opposition. I want them to be careful in the way they do things. We do not want them to be caught in the crossfire of our internal fights. We were disappointed to see them at Ramotswa. But we will write to them,” he promised.
Mangole said the mandate for the outgoing youth league comes to an end this month, and their congress would be held before the end of the month. The turbulences have affected the financial standing of the party as most leaders are said to be withholding their subscriptions.
According to the treasurer general. Phetogo Bakwena, while the majority of councillors are paying up, only three Members of Parliament (MPs) have been honouring their financial obligation to the party. “Our MPs are failing to pay their monthly subscription fee which is P1,000.
Only three MPs are the ones who are paying though they do not pay monthly. The councillors are the ones who are not defaulting except three councillors,” BMD treasurer general Bakwena said. Bakwena said not all NEC members are paying their monthly subscription and failure to pay by some members has resulted in BMD office water being cut.
Bakwena said they sometimes fail to pay rental because of lack of funds.
“Our office rental is P7,000. Sometimes we pay half because we make money through contributions. But we understand some pay their contributions at Gaolathe’s office for their team,” he said.