BMD crisis: Youth League breathes fire
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday May 4, 2017 18:00
A very public schism has developed in the BMD in recent weeks, most notably with the assault of party chairman, Nehemiah Modubule and secretary general, Gilbert Mangole allegedly by Gaolathe’s sympathisers last week. The leadership dispute, pitting Gaolathe and his vice, Wynter Mmolotsi on one hand and Modubule/Mangole on the other, saw an unprecedented press conference called by latter camp on Tuesday in which they threatened action against Gaolathe and his loyalists.
Modubule and Mangole also slammed the new youth league for holding a weekend elective congress in Ramotswa and said the new office bearers were illegitimate. The congress was attended by 42 of the party’s 57 constituencies, in what was interpreted as a national show of support for Gaolathe.
In a blistering statement yesterday evening, the new BMDYL president, Jacob Kelebeng said the party’s youth had “resolved to defend the movement”.
“As the youth of the BMD, we will not stand back and watch as saboteurs and anarchists destroy our party for narrow selfish interests,” he said.
“We will work with, and defend the party president and his vice because we share a common vision of a BMD in which power lies with the people, and not one where those in leadership can hold the masses at ransom just to remain on their seats.”
In an apparent swipe at rivals across the divide, Kelebeng charged that Modubule, at the press conference, had sat next to “those who wanted to violate the party’s constitution”.
“In a democracy, power lies with the people and not with a few misguided individuals,” Kelebeng barked.
“We watched in disbelief as the chairperson of the movement projected himself as a firm believer in constitutionality, yet he was sitting next to a man who wanted to run for presidency contrary to the BMDYL constitution which says membership lapses when a member turns 35.”
Kelebeng’s archrival for the BMDYL chairmanship was Kagelelo Kentse, who is alleged to be in the Modubule/Mangole corner. Kentse and his team snubbed the Ramotswa elective congress, as they dispute its legitimacy. Kentse previously told Mmegi that he qualifies for the race as he is within the age range.
In Ramotswa, most of Kelebeng’s team sailed through unopposed, apart from the additional posts. Gaolathe gave his endorsement of the event.
“This is the real BMD. I encourage members to stand for their party. Let’s stand for the truth. Read and understand the party constitution.”
The latest troubles in the BMD bode badly for the stability of its coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, which recently welcomed the Botswana Congress Party to form the country’s first broad opposition bloc.
The BMD’s National Executive Committee meets on Saturday and the latest disputes top the agenda, though the success of its deliberations remain uncertain. Modubule chairs the meeting.