Lobatse BMD branch disowns Modubule
Tumelo Mouwane | Tuesday June 13, 2017 18:00
In a heated meeting addressed by the NEC over the weekend, branch leadership almost accused him of betraying the party and showed no support for his committee’s desire to suspend party president, Ndaba Gaolathe and others.
They demanded the committee to explain the motive behind his suspension on the eve of the recent Tlokweng by-election and ahead of the Bobonong congress.
“Our party is currently going through a serious mess all because of this suspension. The action you took has dented your names as party leaders and it has devalued you. Didn’t you have any other means to solve the situation other than a suspension? This is a very delicate time when we are trying to nurture opposition unity, and you are well aware that this might have an effect on the whole unity project, which is at a very sensitive stage,” Lobatse branch committee member, Mpho Molefhe Molefhe queried. Lobatse deputy branch secretary, Mmolawa Thebe accused Modubule’s regime of dictatorship and double standards and pledged no support for him.
“Don’t you think you are using the constitution too much, even in situations where differences could be amicably solved? As things are, it certainly looks like you use the constitution when it suits you. The suspension comes at a time when we are still talking unity and it is likely to affect the talks. This was a complete blunder. The constitution gives you too much power,” he said.
However, the former Lobatse MP stuck to his guns, expressing concern at insults hurled at him on social media, especially by young members in the wake of BMD internal wars. He declared his frustrations amidst constituents’ demands on an update on the state of affairs within the troubled movement on Saturday. “I am very concerned with the insults that are directed at me on social media networks especially by BMD youth. Very young people, the age of my last born, insult me on social media with (stream of) expletives. This only happens in the BMD. I have never heard such from other parties where party youth insult their leaders. I must sincerely appeal to parents to talk to their children about this behaviour. Some go to an extent of threatening to beat me up. I must warn you, sometimes you will bring trouble upon yourselves,” he said.
BMD policy director, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli waded in saying Modubule is a ‘seasoned politician’ who stands for what is right and pleaded for support from the constituents and highlighting that much was considered before the decision to suspend Gaolathe was reached. “Modubule is a very honest man and we know that his name has been tainted for telling the truth. He respects the constitution and we need to support him as constituents,” Mmatli said. Modubule, however, said he is not going to hesitate taking action against whoever does not respect the party’s constitution. “I am not going to hesitate to take action against anyone who does not respect the party constitution, whether president or whosoever. Mmatli is very correct, we have been too lenient and we have been too merciful. Now it is time to take action. We tried to call the wrongdoers to the table to try guide them, but they didn’t want to give us an ear,” Modubule said.