BDP lawyers pronouncements on Khama's powers

President Ian Khama has said that at the heart of his decision to suspend the BDP secretary general Gomolemo Motswaledi was his comments regarding a press release from the law firm of Collins Newman and Company. However before the press release, Motswaledi had engaged the three legal minds, Collins Newman and Co, Peter Collins and Sidney Pilane to advise on the powers of the president versus those of the central committee as stipulated in the party's constitution.

On August 5, Motswaledi wrote a letter titled 'Request For legal Opinion' to the three legal consultants requesting them to help with interpreting the provisions of Article 34.1.4 in the context and within the scheme of the party constitution. Article 34.1.4 states that: "The president shall give instructions on any matter to any official of the party and empower any member of the party to exercise any powers or specific functions for and on behalf of the party or central committee as may be valid and lawful".