BDP expels Ntuane

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Friday May 7, 2010 00:00

 

The legislator has been on suspension from the party on charges that he conspired with his fellow Barata-Phathi colleagues to sabotage BDP members associated with the A-Team in the run-up to last year's general elections.

Ntuane is also accused of organising a meeting in Mogoditshane where they rallied Barata-Phathi members to form a new party in March this year.

In an interview with Mmegi after the BDP issued its verdict Ntuane dismissed his expulsion as a waste of time.'The verdict reached is for the pleasure of the Kangaroo tribunal. They are desperately trying to save face as their party collapses. Right from March 20 when the Mogoditshane meeting took the decision to form a new party, I have been busy overseeing the process.

I have been publicly associated with the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) as chair of the executive committee. That is why I did not even respond to the charges I received some three weeks ago. That is why I did not put in an appearance today. I have no wish to interact with the BDP or any of its organs. My time and energy is spent on BMD work,' Ntuane said.

Speaking to Mmegi a few minutes after the aborted disciplinary hearing, BDP publicity manager, Segaetsho Garekwe, said Ntuane was expelled after he failed to defend himself against serious charges of subversion against the party.

'As you can see, he did not come to the hearing,' said Garekwe.

Mmegi: But how did you find out that he was involved in such subversive actions especially in working with the opposition? Does this mean you used the DIS to author this report as some Barata-Phathi allege?

Garekwe: No. They actually admitted to doing it.

Mmegi:  You insist it was not the DIS, then who carried out the investigation and wrote the report?

Garekwe: No. We did not use people outside the BDP. The president appointed BDP people to carry out the report.Mmegi: Is it a secret report?

Garekwe: No, it's not.

Mmegi: Can I have a copy of the report?

 It's not a public document, neither is it a secret report.

Mmegi: Now you are giving me contradicting responses. How can it be and not be at the same time? Which one is it?

Garekwe: We have various reports on various issues and presented to various committees. Some of them are not made public as they contain strategies for the party for the future and therefore we can't avail them to the public.

It would have been compelling to give him the report if he had come to this hearing.

Mmegi: But as a lawyer don't you think it would have been fair to give him the report well before the hearing so that he can acquaint himself with the charges against him and examine how the party arrived at them?

Garekwe: Like I said the report contains BDP strategies and giving it to him before the hearing would have made it public.

Mmegi: But you were to give it to him at this hearing. Wouldn't that have made it public still?

Garekwe: We would have given him the report in its entirety and referred him to sections that deal with him and give him some time to study them and later take it back after the hearing.

Mmegi: So who are the authors of this report?

Garekwe: I can't reveal them.

Mmegi: is the BMD a challenge to the BDP?

Garekwe: If one day it becomes a party we will treat it as an opposition party. Any political party is a threat to the BDP and we take them seriously.

Mmegi: So who is next on the trial list?

Garekwe: For this Saturday we will have MPs, Gilbert Mangole, Wynter Mmolotsi and Guma Moyo to answer to the same charges preferred against Ntuane.