Barata-phathi to peruse Masire truce offer

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday March 29, 2010 00:00

 

A member of the Barata-Phathi Steering Committee confirmed their meeting during which they are expected to appoint a team, which will represent the faction at peace talks with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) central committee. Sir Ketumile has offered to mediate between the BDP warring factions. This followed last weekend's meeting at which the Barata-Phathi reached a unanimous decision to form a break away party.

They also submitted a list of demands to the BDP president, Ian Khama. Chief among these demands was to reinstate the original central committee elected at the Kanye congress last July, including suspended secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi. 

But the BDP central committee has scoffed at the Barata-Phathi set of demands, dismissing them as 'outrageous'. 

In retaliation, the central committee demanded that all Baratha-Phathi members who attended the Mogoditshane meeting should surrender their BDP membership cards within 48 hours otherwise they would be deemed as party members who have to abide by its regulations. Barata-Phathi members have vowed that they will never submit the membership cards.  In fact they have challenged the party leadership to dare take action against them.

As it seemed that the two factions had reached a deadlock, Sir Ketumile, who is one of the founding members of the BDP, offered to mediate.

In his statement, Sir Ketumile urged Barata-Phati to desist from making assertions that they were going to form a new party. He said Barata-Phathi must stand down on their concerns to allow for dialogue with the party leadership.

He proposed that they should appoint a five-member working group to meet with the BDP central committee in pursuit of party unity and reconciliation.

As for the central committee, Sir Ketumile said they should not take any disciplinary action against Barata-Phathi to allow for dialogue in pursuit of party unity and reconciliation. 

He said the central committee should convene a meeting as soon as possible to meet with the Barata-Phathi working group.

But a member of Barata-Phathi revealed that there is no going back on their resolution to form a new party. He said they no longer have a future in the BDP, adding that they are being discriminated against in every respect.

He claimed that even government tenders are being awarded to members of the rival A-team only.

He accused Sir Ketumile allegedly of always sitting on the fence and watching as they were being subjected to all sorts of humiliation. The Barata-Phathi member said Sir Ketumile only wants to make peace when they have already decided that they have had enough. 'It is just like somebody who has been watching when you were being beaten up by your elder brother.  When you are running away, this person is trying to call you to come and reconcile. Why is it that Sir Ketumile has been silent when Khama was ill treating us?' he questioned.

The Barata-Phathi member said there is no way they are going to renege on a resolution that was taken by the people. He said they could only remain in the BDP if that party was prepared to accommodate them without preconditions.

The BDP central committee is also reportedly meeting today to consider Masire's proposals.