BMDYL intervenes in party factional wars

3476,Tsaone Basimanebotlhe,php5334.tmp.jpg, | Friday May 6, 2016 00:00

The league has warned that it will conduct mass mobilisation and even push for a special congress, should its demands not be acceded to.

The BMD has been rocked by internal divisions, with factions emerging and tensions rising in recent months.  The pressures boiled over recently with a physical altercation involving the women’s league members, a legislator and security guards at Tsogang Primary School in Gaborone. Police are investigating three cases of assault from that incident.

Camps formed within the BMD after former founder, chairperson and presidential candidate, Sidney Pilane resurfaced asking for membership of the party.  While the BMD’s leadership resisted his application, Pilane eventually secured membership in his home constituency of Mochudi West through the support of the party’s secretary general and area MP, Gilbert Mangole.

The Pilane issue has split the leadership, with reports that the former founder is readying himself to challenge party president, Ndaba Gaolathe. This week the BMDYL waded into the fray, with deputy secretary general, Ludo Nkabiti penning a letter to the party’s National Executive Committee and the secretary general.

“We have noted over the past weeks the instability and conflicts that have arose (sic) amongst the highly esteemed movement and stood on the sidelines, bestowing the hope and the confidence upon the BMD National Executive Committee we have entrusted with the leadership at Ghanzi 2015,” the letter leaked to Mmegi reads.

The youth league says it was saddened by the developments in the party. “If it’s not the social media squabbling about the re-admission of MK Sidney Pilane, it’s the radio interview attacks amongst the party leadership, leaked open letters and too much factional fights amongst yourselves,” the letter states.

Nkabiti continues: “The National Working Committee of the BMD Youth League would like to advise the BMD NEC to take responsibility in addressing these issues as a matter of urgency.

“We need a united, focused BMD that will be the epicentre of the UDC in making sure that the UDC takes over government in 2019”.

The letter notes that the warring factions within BMD are wrecking the movement.

“We expect our esteemed leadership to respond to our writing within five working days upon receipt clearly stating the plan of action to be taken to restore order within the BMD.

“Failure to do so will warrant the youth league to mobilise and forge a way forward on what needs to happen not discounting a special congress.” BMDYL secretary general, Banks Kentse confirmed that they have written to the mother body.  “I cannot share the details of the letter. We are concerned as the youth league by in-fightings within the party. Our movement cannot go on like this. The youth league only wants the mother body to address the issue of factions and to dissolve them and even to have a resolution concerning Pilane’s issue,” Kentse says.

BMD secretary general Gilbert Mangole confirmed receipt of the letter from the party’s youth. “We are yet to meet as NEC and respond to the letter,” Mangole says.

While Gaolathe had said the issue of Pilane’s membership will be dealt with at the party’s congress in 2017, Mangole differed and insisted that Pilane had already been granted membership.

A faction known as ‘Save the BMD’ has recently emerged within the party, and is fighting against the pro-Pilane camp.

Political analyst, Anthony Morima said the BMD had to pass through this stage since after its formation, it focused more on the Umbrella for Democratic Change than itself. “It was always in a jubilant mood and therefore it had no time to build proper structures, which are very important.  Again it was very important for it to have checks and balances but it is starting now. What is happening to BMD happens to every new party. It happened to the Botswana National Front and the Botswana Congress Party.”