With the upcoming elective congress scheduled for next November, tensions are escalating, and the fight for control of the party leadership threatens to deepen existing divisions. To begin with, the regional congresses, which are critical preparatory stages for the main congress, have already been a source of contention and turmoil. For instance, over the past weekend in Serowe, the party experienced a significant setback when delegates from the Palapye constituency were disqualified for failing to adhere to the party’s stipulated procedures in electing their representatives. This violation of the BPF constitution has further fueled concerns about the party’s internal cohesion. The party’s organising secretary, Leapetswe Lesedi, confirmed the disqualification during an interview with this publication. According to Lesedi, the Palapye delegation’s inability to vote stemmed from their failure to follow the proper procedures in selecting delegates, which ultimately led to their exclusion from the regional congress. He explained: “It is true, the Palapye delegation could not vote as they had failed to follow party procedure to select their delegates. As a result, they could not be part of the regional congress.
Meanwhile, the Central region has been voted in.” This incident is emblematic of broader issues plaguing the BPF as it prepares for its elective congress. Moreover, it highlights the growing concern about party discipline and adherence to internal rules. These concerns were echoed by the party president, Mephato Reatile, during a recent party conference in Molepolole, where he openly criticized the rising indiscipline among members. Reatile expressed his disappointment by pointing out the numerous legal battles the party has faced since its inception in 2018, attributing many of these to internal conflicts rather than external opposition. He had said: “Our party has had many court cases, more than any other party formed in 2018. While some members do not want to obey decisions taken by the national executive committee, this behaviour undermines our unity and progress.” Furthermore, the tension within the party was made even more evident during the same conference weekend, which was supposed to be marked by peaceful elections for both the youth and women’s leagues. Unfortunately, some disgruntled members deliberately disrupted the process by destroying a ballot box, plunging the event into chaos and halting the democratic process. Following a swift investigation, the party found the culprits guilty of their actions. Not only did the members admit to their misconduct, but they also agreed to take responsibility by replacing the damaged property.
