BDP councilors defy party caucus

Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday May 10, 2017 15:03

 

 Mbulawa was expected to successfully defend his position as the council chairperson at the NWDC elections, but the outcome was to the complete contrary.

 On Monday, Enga who was not endorsed by the BDP caucus, chose to contest the chairmanship elections and he prevailed against Mbulawa who was the ruling party’s preferred choice.

 Enga defeated Mbulawa by 22 votes to 19. The decisions of a BDP caucus are binding by nature.

 The BDP councillors backing Enga connived with their opposition counterparts to topple Mbulawa who is said to be backing Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi for the position of party chairman. 

Enga and his BDP backers support Masisi’s rival Nonofo Molefhi for the party chairmanship position. Insiders believe the council chairmanship race was decided on account of factionalism between councillors supporting Masisi and Molefhi. 

 “Only a person who is ethically and morally fit cannot go against the decisions of a caucus. It is up to the party to decide what it should do against Enga, not me but I am disappointed with his conduct (defying the caucus). By defying a caucus decision he has wronged the party not me,” he said. 

Mbulawa added that before the caucus meeting started, BDP councillors were even reminded that the decisions of the gathering were binding.

 Mbulawa does not believe that the perceived rivalry between Masisi and Molefhi’s supporters influenced Enga to defy the BDP caucus.

“This is not the first time he defies the party caucus. He contested the position of deputy council chairperson and lost in 2014. He did that against the party caucus. Then, there were no elections for the party chairmanship. That is why I think he has his own reasons why he defied the weekend caucus.” 

 Yesterday, BDP North West region chairperson Eagile Modiseemang confirmed that the party caucus had chosen Mbulawa as its preferred choice for the position of chairperson.

 “We will give a report of what transpired during the caucus to the central committee. The committee will then decide what action it will take against Enga.”

“Decisions of the caucus are binding. The central committee is the one that can recommend punitive action against those who breach caucus decisions,” Modiseemang said in an interview.

BDP councillor, Latlhang Molonda retained his position as the deputy council chairperson. He was unopposed. Enga did not answer his phone for the better part of yesterday when Mmegi tried contacting him.