Monageng files appeal against Morwaeng
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday February 2, 2018 17:46
Monageng lost to Kabo Morwaeng in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries with over 800 votes. Morwaeng, the prodigal son of Botswana politics had garnered 2,693 votes against Monageng’s 1,844 .
Morwaeng is the secretary of the Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC), which according to the letter, PEEC usurped the powers of the electoral board, which amongst others are to supervise registration of voters, maintain rolls and cards and their distribution.
“Morwaeng as a candidate, PEEC member and its secretary played these dual roles in the constituency, such that his intermingling functions evidently compromised him in that in distributing cards, he withheld some cards for more than 230 members who wanted to vote, or for that matter to participate in the elections.
As a candidate he should have been involved in cards distribution, particularly in Molepolole South where he was a candidate,” Monageng’s appeal letter states.
According to Monageng’s appeal, a large number of voters did not have access to their cards even when the head office had printed cards on time and given to him and the branch secretary to distribute just before, and on the date of the election.
The appeal says after closure of gates for election, by 9pm a total of over 200 members at each of the two different polling stations, Sebele and Bonewamang primary schools were chanting inside the election premises wanting to force entry and demanding their cards, which Morwaeng withheld and police had to be called to ensure peace prevailed.
“I had previously complained to the secretary general, Mpho Balopi and the regional member of central committee, Guma Moyo about the unevenness of the political landscape over Morwaeng’s multiple conflict of interests,” he said.
Although he needed not have resigned from PEEC as the rules may not have compelled him to, or even if PEEC took over the role of the electoral board but his conscience, common sense, natural justice and legal justice dictate that he should have recused himself, the letter says.
Monageng contended that the elections were tainted with biasness or possibilities thereof and unfairness, seeing that Morwaeng literally withheld membership cards to his advantage and his prejudice and of the party even going forward.
“One of the party resolutions taken at the 2017 Tonota national congress was to the effect that Omang numbers shall become membership numbers, such that for as long as a member is on the voters’ roll and has valid Omang/ID but has not been given or issued with a card, he shall be allowed to vote. But that was not the case in Molepolole South.
“This disenfranchised a lot of members to my prejudice and to the potential future harm of the party,” it says. Monageng added that the reason why the appeal is directed to the central committee is because it is his opinion, the regional committee is an interested party and must be excluded in hearing the matter.
Monageng confirmed to Mmegi that he has submitted an appeal, but refused to comment further. However, Morwaeng said he could not comment on party internal issues.
The BDP secretary general, Mpho Balopi announced early this week that the party has set up an appeals committee to handle all Bulela Ditswe queries.