Cuff your dogs and snakes

Mmegi Editor | Friday July 14, 2017 11:06

The party goes into the congress divided and with angry members on the opposing sides. It is also known that the party president Ndaba Gaolathe and his deputy Wynter Mmolotsi were suspended together with other party members. The expelled members has publicly pleaded ignorance to the expulsion and has been busy preparing for the congress and called at least two press conferences.

The chairperson Nehemiah Modubule led faction, which effected the suspensions, and expulsions on the other hand continued to treat the others as expelled claiming that they failed to follow the BMD constitution after endorsing the Youth League congress in Ramotswa.

It is already clear that peace is unlikey to reign at the congress. With that having been said, we would like to urge the two factions to exercise restraint and practice ntwakgolo ke ya molomo.

The two factions leaders should be encouraging their members to be calm and solve their differences on the table. With the National Executive Committee (NEC) divided, there is no way things can run smoothly.

Earlier this year before the suspension of Ndaba Gaolathe led faction, NEC members turned party offices into a war zone when activists alleged to be bodyguards to the party president Gaolathe, reportedly pounced on and allegedly assaulted secretary general, Gilbert Mangole and Modubule.

That was not all, we heard of branch congresses turning into boxing matches, as each faction wanted to elect preferred delegates for the congress. Also there have been videos making rounds on social media of ordinary members fighting each other. These incidents do not reflect who we are as Batswana. We solve our issues calmly and we request that the BMD masses do exactly that.

We have seen fights within the Botswana National Front after Duma Boko assumed its presidency. Contrary to what is happening at the BMD, the BNF members who had disagreements approached the courts. After that some left, others made up and they are now enjoying peace and tranquility.

We would also like to call on the Botswana Police and other security organs to do all in their powers to protect lives, which will be clearly at risk, as members in the two warring factions continue to threaten each other with the use of violence.

Today’s thought

‘Ntwakgolo ke ya molomo’

 - Unknown