BDP Expels Two More MPs

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday May 10, 2010 00:00

 

Two legislators have become the latest casualities as the BDP embarks on a mission to purge dissidents.

On Saturday the BDP disciplinary committee expelled the MP for Tati East, Samson Guma Moyo and Gilbert Mangole of Kgatleng West. Both MPs have been associated with the newly formed BMD.  They were also leading members of the Barata Phati faction of the BDP.

The BDP disciplinary committee called them for a disciplinary hearing at the Maharaja conference centre on Saturday but they failed to turn up. The BDP publicity chief who is also a member of the disciplinary committee, Segaetsho Garekwe confirmed that a decision was taken to expel the two legislators  after they boycotted the hearing. He said they wrote the MPs letters and even phoned them to attend the disciplinary hearing.  However, he said, the legislators told them that they would not attend the disciplinary forum.

'We had hoped they would come and tell their story.  They would even have been pardoned.  We are willing to bend and listen,' he said.  The BDP official told The Monitor that the disciplinary committee is also empowered to reconcile with party members. 

He said as a party they do not want to lose members and they always try to reconcile with disgruntled members. He added that they have made numerous efforts to talk peace with the MPs and other disgruntled members.  

Garekwe said the two legislators were supposed to answer charges in relation to the Barata Phathi meeting that was held at the Big Five Lodge in March.  It was at this meeting that a unanimous decision was reached to form a break away party from the BDP.

Some of the charges that the two MPs faced include attending an 'illegal' meeting which was not sanctioned by the BDP and attacking the party leadership.  Another charge related to inciting BDP members to revolt against the party.  The MPs were also charged with disobeying the party leadership by attending the Barata Phathi meeting.  Garekwe said prior to the Mogoditshane meeting, the central committee issued an order that BDP members should not attend the conference.

He said the two legislators were found guilty against the charges that they were faced with.  Garakwe further revealed that they have postponed the disciplinary hearing of Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi who is also facing the same charges.  He said the hearing has been postponed to a later date because Mmolotsi had sent an apology that he would not be available.   The MP has indicated that he would be outside the country on parliamentary business.

When contacted, Moyo's remark was that life does not end with the BDP.  'My country and life are greater than the BDP,' he said.Mangole said he welcomed his expulsion from the BDP.  'I am very happy, 'he said.  He added that it would give him time to continue with his other political interests.

 Mangole said they were aware that they would be expelled.  'That is why I didn't bother to attend.'

He said the BDP president Ian Khama passed judgment on them when he was addressing a political rally in Francistown last week.  He said it was clear from the tone of his speech that he wanted them to be expelled.  'What would you expected from a DC that he heads,' he questioned.

Mangole said he is going to concentrate on his constituency and to build up his new party.   'I am accountable to the electorates and not the BDP,' he said. Asked why he did not resign from the BDP, he had planned to resign in his own time.  'There was nothing that compelled me to resign.  I was going to resign at my own time.  The BDP has now formalised my resignation from the party,' he said.

The number of MPs who have been fired from the BDP has risen to three.  On Thursday, the BDP expelled another MP, Botsalo Ntuane who is also a member of the Barata Phathi faction.  The Gaborone West South MP, who has been on a 60 day suspension, was facing a number of charges ranging from colluding with the opposition.  Ntuane was also expelled in absentia after he boycotted the disciplinary hearing.