BDP Gaborone region saddled with protests

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday June 30, 2017 18:10

 

Gaborone region is made up of five constituencies that include Gaborone South, Gaborone North, Gaborone Central, Gaborone Bonnington North and Gaborone Bonnington South. Three constituencies out of five had voted peacefully while there has been two protested in Gaborone Bonnington North and Gaborone South.

Party members are fighting for voting rights at the BDP congress that will be held starting next week Friday.  Observers are of the view that the BDP congress will be another unity test for the party. Recently the BDP members have been fighting over the issue of the delegates. The members are divided into two factions, led by Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Nonofo Molefhi. The two are fighting for the chairpersonship of the BDP.

“The committees which have been conducting elections at Gaborone Bonnington North have been suspended by the regional committee pending the outcome which led to the recent fight.

The matter will be heard on Friday (today) and elections might be held over the weekend or next week,” a source said.

The source continued: “The problem in this constituency is that some people want to block the process of elections. The committee members are divided and failing to follow what is required in the constitution”.

The source said the fight at Gaborone South constituency was at Selemela ward as there was a minor error when the congress was held.

“If the region does not resolve the issues then the delegates for the two constituencies might be disqualified.” Reached for comment the region chairperson MacDonald Peloetletse said he could not discuss internal matters.

“I can confirm that we have two protests but they would be resolved soon. I cannot predict the elections will be done again or not. The two cases will be heard this Friday,” Peloetletse said.