S/Phikwe East split on eve of BNF conference?

MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent | Friday July 18, 2008 00:00

 

It said the constituency is deeply divided over the issue of BNF leader, Otsweletswe Moupo's continued stay at the helm.

A general membership meeting called by the constituency leadership on Tuesday, reportedly degenerated into a fracas as rival camps exchanged harsh words. The meeting was meant to discuss resolutions to be presented to the conference in Jwaneng.

Some BNF activists in Selebi-Phikwe East are opposed to Moupo's leadership and have called for his ouster, while another group has vehemently opposed such moves, leading to strained relations.

It is reported that some party members have called for boycotting the conference, urging delegates to attend, at least do so only as observers.

'Those who want Moupo to be ousted prefer to stay away from the conference or not to make any presentations if they attend,' said a member of the party, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The member said those who support Moupo want delegates from the constituency to make presentations at the conference.

When the meeting failed to resolve the issue, another one was called for yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. But the source said chances were slim that the impasse would be resolved.

But in the midst of all this, the constituency Chairman, Kabelo Kgololego, denied the existence of divisions.

He said the constituency's delegates would attend the conference, but would not make any presentations as no resolutions were made. 'We can only make presentations to the conference if we have resolutions as a constituency,' Kgololego said.

He said BNF members in the constituency were not divided over the Moupo issue. Kgololego said the constituency will write a letter to the central committee explaining reasons why it will not make presentations to the conference.

He confirmed that the constituency membership had met twice but refused to discuss the contents of the meeting.'We met twice, but what was discussed remains an internal matter.

If you go to a meeting and do not form a quorum, you cannot discuss anything. We will inform the Central Committee of our decisions,' Kgololego said.

However, a member who attended the meeting said the warring factions could not find common ground.

He said the tensions ran high and there was little progress made. The source added that there was no chance of reaching an agreement before the weekend conference and the the constituency will not make any presentations there.