BNF disagree over youth congress venue

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday March 4, 2010 00:00

The BNF politburo has the powers to direct and control the youth league. It is said that when the youth sought permission to hold its congress they were given the nod, but on condition that it is held in Tsabong.

However, the youth league insist that they want to hold the congress in Mochudi. BNFYL spokesperson, Arafat Khan said that youth structures in Mochudi wrote to them requesting to host the congress.

'On top of that, some BNF members in the Mochudi area have pledged to donate cows and money for the congress if we hold it in their area. So we thought it would save the party, money if we were to hold it in Mochudi,' he said.

He refused to name the people who pledged to make donations to the congress saying most of them are government employees who would not want to be publicly known for financing an opposition party.

Khan said that besides electing a new committee, they will make some amendments to the youth league constitution. The amendments are expected to create five new positions, which include the chairmanship. Khan said the most important agenda at the congress will be the semi-autonomy of the BNFYL from the party central committee. 'We have been under the central committee and this is sometimes problematic in that we always have to seek permission even on things like the holding of the youth congress. They can refuse if they want to,' he said.

When contacted for comment, the central committee spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa dismissed reports that the politburo imposed the Tsabong venue on the youth league.

He said there had been an agreement between the party and the youth that the congress be held together with the BNF leadership forum and women's congress to save costs. Mohwasa said that initially, they chose Tsabong as the venue but later changed to Francistown.

The change was made after party members in Tsabong said other groups have already booked the local community hall where they intended to hold the BNF events.

He said that it is regrettable that while they are still trying to work out logistics for the three party events - youth congress, women's congress and the party leadership forum - some youth are going around talking to the media.

Mohwasa is puzzled why the BNFYL is seeking to be independent because it is an organ of the BNF. 'We are not against the amendment of the BNFYL constitution, as long as they (amendments) are not going to take the party back,' he said.

Meanwhile BNF president, Otsweletse Moupo will open the youth congress while the leader of the youth wing of the South African Communist Party, Buti Manamela will be the guest speaker. Though it has not been clear who will stand for which position at the BNFYL, Khan has declared that he will vie for the post of secretary general.