Will there be peace at 2011 BDP congress?

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday January 17, 2011 00:00

 

The 2009 congress in Kanye turned into a turbulent affair, leading to a split that gave rise to the formation of the Botswana Movement for Democracy by the Barataphathi faction, making the Gantsi event look like a walk in the park wheren Ponatshego Kedikilwe challenged Ian Khama for leadership of the organization.

 Of the prominent Barata Phathi leaders, only Daniel Kwelagobe remains as chairman in the BDP central committee. Tebelelo Seretse who stood against Kwelagobe, will also not be contesting this time. Seretse is now Botswana's ambassador to the United States. It is not certain whether Kwelagobe will contest this time around. The BDP went to the 2009 congress a polarised organisation. The party was divided between the Barataphathi and A-team factions. Even if there are factions at the congress, Barataphathi will not be a deciding factor since most have left for the BMD. History is likely to list the 2009 congress as the most controversial ever, mostly on account of Ian Khama's actions.

Prior to the congress, Khama declared that cabinet ministers should not stand for the central committee elections.  He said those who intended to contester central committee positions should resign their cabinet posts.It seemed that Khama's decree targeted Kwelagobe who held both a cabinet post and a central committee position. 

During the BDP council meeting, Khama tried desperately to convince Kwelagobe not to stand for the central committee. But Kwelagobe waved the BDP constitution at Khama and insisted that would contest. This did not go down well with Khama. Other cabinet ministers like the former Minister of Education, Jacob Nkate, declared that they would not stand for the central committee.  But there were other cabinet ministers like Lesego Motsumi who kept their ministerial posts and contested the elections. After the soft approach had failed, Khama declared war against Kwelagobe dropping him from cabinet. He went about waging attacks on Kwelagobe and describing him as 'power hungry' and  'ailing old man'. Khama's lieutenants joined to de-campaign Kwelagobe attacking the BDP veteran leader at public rallies.

Kwelagobe did not retaliate and this earned him public sympathy.  Kwelagobe was not only vilified by the BDP leadership, but he was also denied party resources even though he was the chairman. At some stage, Khama and his lieutenants where flown to a BDP event in Tsabong while Kwelagobe had to use the road.  Kwelagobe was forced to use his own resources when he was attending to party events.   It was only the likes of former BDP youthful activists like Botsalo Ntuane and Gomolemo Motswaledi who came out with their guns blazing to defend Kwelagobe.  During the launch of Kwelagobe as a parliamentary candidate for Molepolole South, the BDP youth activists defended the veteran politician against the vitriolic attacks waged against him. Motswaledi reminded Seretse that if she wanted the goats that they donated to Kwelagobe when he retired as the party secretary general, they could refund her.  The battle lines were drawn for the congress as the two factions campaigned vigorously.   The BDP members were at each other's throats.

Khama urged BDP members to vote for Mma Seretse but he was to be disappointed. Khama threatened that if the people voted for Kwelagobe, he would not work with him and he kept true to his word. At the congress, Barataphathi swept the stakes. Khama's favourite candidates were whipped.  Only he was re-elected unopposed.

The BDP president did not acknowledge that the people had spoken.  He did not even congratulate nor acknowledge the winners. Surprisingly, he did not even extend the olive branch to the Barataphathi or the winners. 

BDP returned from Kanye as polarized as when it went there. No efforts were made at reconciliation.  Khama did not sit down with his new committee to map out a strategy of how they were going to work together. He started to take unilateral decisions as if the rest of the central committee members were not there.

Khama appointed additional committee members without consulting with his central committee.  He also renewed the contract of the executive secretary, Dr Batlang Serema. 

Members of the central committee did not take this lightly. They sought legal advice on whether Khama could run the party without consulting them. Before the verdict was out, the BDP law firm issued a press statement giving Khama the thumbs up sign. When Gomolemo Motswaledi, who was the secretary general, questioned the law firm's conduct, he was slapped with a suspension. After Motswaledi was suspended, deputy secretary general, Wynter Mmolotsi, acted in his position.

It was logical that since he was the deputy, Mmolotsi should fill Motswaledi's post.  But Khama saw things differently and appointed Thato Kwerepe. Just before the BDP went to Kanye, Kwerepe who was walloped by Nkate in the Ngami parliamentary primaries, was associated with the Barataphathi.  This was how the novice politician got elected into the central committee at Kanye.  

But after the Kanye congress, Kwerepe changed colours and renounced factions.  He was also appointed as a nominated councilor in the North West District. Feeling that they were no longer appreciated, some central committee members like Mmolotsi resigned.  In the meantime, Motswaledi took the BDP to court to challenge his suspension.  However, the courts ruled that Khama was covered by presidential immunity. 

After Motswaledi lost his court case, more BDP members were to be dragged before the disciplinary committee. But it seemed there was a witchhunt since only members of the Barataphathi were summoned for disciplinary hearings.

Faced with the prospect of expulsions from the BDP, Barataphathi members felt that enough was enough. This is what led to the formation of BMD.   It was the first time that BDP split.

Now it remains to be seen whether the this year's congress will be peaceful or whether it will be a replica of the infamous Kanye convention.