Chibuku guzzlers attempt to disrupt BMD meeting
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday June 27, 2017 17:00
The meeting that was held at the Lobatse Civic Centre on Sunday attracted elderly people, but some youth, later said to be not party members, led by the councillor for Phakalane, Mmapula attended the meeting and tried to disrupt the proceedings. As Gaolathe narrated events that led to the current standoff in the party, a group of about 15 came to the venue holding placards written, ‘Ndaba Must Fall’ while singing.
The group, whose members were drinking Chibuku and other alcoholic beverages, was seemingly under the leadership of the councillor who stated that Gaolathe was not allowed to hold meetings in Lobatse under BMD colours.
“We cannot allow this meeting to continue in Lobatse without the party chairman Modubule’s knowledge. Why should Ndaba hold a meeting with his friends in this constituency? These people do not want to follow party procedure. We will rather fight for this meeting to stop,” the legislator of an upmarket suburb in Gaborone lashed out.
However, some BMD members from Lobatse blocked the crew from entering the hall. The MP for Gaborone Central, Phenyo Butale said it was very shameful for leaders like the councillor to be giving youth alcohol and trying to influence them to disrupt the meeting.
“If indeed they are trying to protect Modubule, why can’t they say their reasons without trying to fight? We are protecting our party from people who behave like these. Again, these youth are not BMD members. The meeting is continuing as planned and they are not going to tell us what to do,” Butale said.
After the meeting, things nearly turned nasty as two youths wanted to stone Gaolathe’s car, but their efforts failed as some members came to Gaolathe’s rescue when they surrounded the car to ensure that the suspended party president left unharmed.
The group of youth who were out of control tried to block the gate for people to either gain entry or exit the premises, but they failed as the police came to the rescue. Gaolathe had earlier pleaded with his supporters to be calm and not interfere with the group’s claims of protecting Nehemiah Modubule.
Police were called, but they could not arrest anyone and said they were only there to keep the peace. “We were called to attend to some people who were trying to disrupt the meeting, but no case has been opened against anyone,” a junior officer, who is not authorised to speak to the press, said. BMD is divided into two factions which are of the Modubule/Gilbert Mangole camp and that of Gaolathe/Wynter Mmolotsi.