Khama finally confirms trio's suspension

| Thursday March 18, 2010 00:00

 

'Your Suspension From The Party Pending Disciplinary Action' reads the heading of the letter, a copy of which Mmegi is in possession of. 

Khama states 'In the exercise of my power as Party President in terms of Article 34.1.5 of the Party Constitution I hereby suspend you as a member of the Party for a period of sixty (60) days pending disciplinary action'.

The three are accused of 'sponsoring and/or taking part in seditious activities aimed at sabotaging the Party and overall considered detrimental to the interests of the Party'.

Khama further says he came to the conclusion that the trio may have been involved in the said activities after a report submitted to him from an investigation he commissioned. The report, which has been a bone of contention between Khama and the trio, will be delivered to the accused when the charges are formally submitted.

'During this period of suspension you may not engage in any Party activities as your membership rights will be suspended with immediate effect,' concludes Khama.

Each letter is copied to the rest of the central committee members and the branch committee in the constituency the member belongs to.

Last week the trio revealed that they were waiting for the letters of suspension although media reports had earlier indicated that they had already been suspended. Late last week it was revealed that Party chairman, Daniel Kwelagobe and treasurer, Satar Dada were attempting to bring Khama and the trio to a peace accord.

On Monday after receiving his suspension letter Ntuane enquired from Parliament speaker Margaret Nasha whether he should move from the BDP side in light of his suspension. However the speaker announced that Ntuane remains a de-facto BDP MP until written communication from him or the party indicates otherwise.

Ntuane subsequently indicated to Mmegi that he would consult his electorate in Gaborone West South before making a decision on the issue.

Meanwhile Pilane says the trio now awaits communication from the President formally charging them, and it is from then that they will devise a way forward.

Morwaeng, Pilane and Ntuane, members of the Barata-Phathi faction that roundly defeated the Khama-supported A-Team at last year's Kanye Congress have been at odds with the party leadership since their faction lost control of the party to their rivals.

Since the suspension of their ally former secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi, speculation has been that the trio would be next to be ejected from the party as Khama consolidates his control over the party.

In the letters of suspension Khama indicates that he will avail a copy of the investigation team's report to the trio. There has been a lot of speculation that the secret investigating was done by security agents, possibly the DISS, although the spy unit has refuted such claims.

It remains to be seen whether President Khama will release the names of those who sat in the investigating teams and the methods employed.