FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) has suspended its secretary-general (SG), Tireoeaone Ntsima, for alleged gross misconduct.
The BPP insiders told Mmegi that Ntsima’s suspension has nothing to do with misconduct but rather just a smokescreen to jeopardise his meteoritic rise within the BPP. Before Ntsima joined the BPP, he was a member of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP). “Ntsima’ suspension is a ruse because he does not harbour any intentions of becoming the president of the BPP in future. He is being purged because of his alleged presidential ambitions although he does not have any interest in contesting for the presidency of the BPP. The truth of the matter is that the BPP has long promised its members that it would hold an elective congress but the party has not done so in years.The BPP members who are calling for the holding of the elective congress are being targeted by some members of the Central Committee (CC) and even those who are seen as potential presidential contenders of the party are also targeted,” said a source close to the goings on in the BPP.
The source added: “Ntsima is being targeted because he is believed to be sympathetic to BPP members who want to see radical changes being implemented in the running of the party.” Following the BPP’s impressive performance in the 2024 General Election, some concerned members of the BPP petitioned the party’s CC calling for the holding of the elective congress amongst a host of radical changes. Their letter partly read: “We, the concerned members of the BPP, express our concerns regarding the current leadership and CC’s failure to adequately represent our interests at both the BPP and UDC levels. It appears that there is a preference for recruited cadres from other political parties, as well as those individuals who demonstrate financial stability. We submit this list of demands in the light of recent observations regarding the effectiveness and representation of the CC. Our commitment to the party and its ideals necessitates that we address the following issues: We demand an immediate scheduling of an elective congress to ensure that the CC operates with a legitimate mandate from the party membership. It is unacceptable for the central committee to function without a formal vote of confidence from the party members for an extended period.”
The BPP has not held an elective congress in many years and most of its CC members are functionaries who were co-opted after they joined the party from other opposition parties. One of those said to be behind Ntsima’s suspension is the BPP’ SG for political education, Ignatius Moswaane. Moswaane, who is also an MP for Francistown West and Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, denied allegations that he is behind the suspension of Ntsima in order to boost his presidential ambitions. “In the first place, I have not stated whether or not I will contest for the position of the president of the BPP. Also, I was not involved in president Motlatsi Molapise’s decision to suspend Ntsima. The prerogative to suspend members of the BPP lies with its president. Even if I want to contest for the position of the president of the BPP, I would want Ntsima to support me so there is no need to sabotage each other. Ntsima is my younger brother. I have worked very hard in Francistown East for him to become an MP. I support Ntsima as an MP and Minister. Those who are fabricating stories that I am behind Ntsima’s suspension may do so but they should not involve my name. I am a staunch member of the BPP and my interest is to see the BPP growing. The BPP cannot grow if its members are not united for a good purpose,” highlighted Moswaane.
Asked to comment on Ntsima’ suspension and when the BPP will hold its elective congress, the acting SG of the BPP, Venter Galetshabiwe, who was co-opted into the position following Ntsima’ suspension, said: “The BPP has not yet set a date when it will hold its elective congress. This is a matter that will be decided by the CC.” When contacted for a comment, Ntsima acknowledged that he has indeed received a letter of his suspension from the BPP. He however, added that he was constrained to discuss his suspension with third parties because it is a matter between him and the party.
Quizzed about Ntsima’ suspension, Galetshabiwe, who was also unceremoniously sacked by the BPP in 2021 but smoked the peace pipe with the party in 2022, said: “Yes, I can confirm that the BPP has suspended its SG, Ntsima. He (Ntsima) was suspended by the party president Molapise for gross misconduct. Molapise suspended Ntsima for 45 days in accordance with Section 7 (a) of the constitution of the BPP. He was suspended after he instigated some party members to open accounts on social media platforms that are critical of the BPP, which brought the name of the party into disrepute. Before his suspension, Ntsima was holding a crucial position in the party. As the SG, how does Ntsima want the BPP to discipline its errant members when he himself is not behaving as expected?” Galetshabiwe also feigned ignorance when he was asked if Ntsima’ suspension was in any way linked to the presidential seat of the BPP. “I don’t know anything about what you have just asked me,” said Galetshabiwe.
Ntsima, who is a Member of Parliament for Francistown East and Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, made history when he won the constituency from the grip of then ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the 2024 General Election. Francistown was one constituency during the first General Election but was later split in two constituencies (Francistown East and West) and eventually into the three constituencies following the demarcation of Francistown South. Francistown, as the constituency was then called, was under the firm grip of the late Phillip Matante of the BPP who was also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly from 1965 until his death in 1979. In 1965, the BPP under Matante’s leadership, captured three seats to become the sole opposition party in the National Assembly. In the build up to the polls last year, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) allocated the BPP seven parliamentary seats and it managed to win four of them including Francistown East. The BPP, together with the Botswana National Front (BNF) and Alliance for Progressives (AP), are affiliates of the UDC.
The four legislative seats that the BPP won in the recent past polls are its best ever performance since its formation in 1960. Therefore, it came as a surprise that the BPP has suspended Ntsima, a Bachelor of Politics and Psychology graduate from the University of Cape Town, who was one of the main architects of its phenomenal performance in last year’s plebiscite.