Speaking to Mmegi on Wednesday, the ex-activist, Dumani Kelepi, said that he resigned from the BPP on June 7. Whilst Kelepi was vague when asked by Mmegi whether or not his fallout and subsequent resignation from the BPP was caused by the fact that the BPP barred him from standing for primary elections, it is apparent from his response that was the case. Kelepi said: “I am no longer interested in working with the BPP. My resignation from the BPP has nothing to do with the court and/or barring issue. I am into politics to represent people and not being a spectator activist. I am not into politics to warm the bench but I am in it to serve the people. I can’t be in an organisation that wants me to be on the sidelines doing nothing.” Kelepi, a former BDP Tati West councillor who stood for the 2019 General Election as an independent candidate and came third via 182 votes, denied allegations that he will stand for elections under the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) banner. “I don’t know why some people are peddling allegations that I will stand for elections under the BPF ticket.
The BPF has not approached me to be their candidate in the 2024 polls. I have not joined any party after I resigned from the BPP. I am currently exploring ways of how I can represent my constituents. My followers in the Shashe Bridge/Tati Siding South ward are also concerned about my way forward following my resignation from the BPP,” said Kelepi. The secretary-general of the BPP, Tiroyaaone Ntsima, also confirmed that Kelepi has since resigned from the BPP before disciplinary action was taken against him. Last month, the former activist, Kelepi, hauled the BPP before the High Court on a certificate of urgency after it barred him from taking part in its primaries in the Shashe Bridge/Tati Siding South ward in the Tati East constituency. The BPP had approved Botsang Bareki, Wame Ncube and Kaisara James to contest in the primaries that were pencilled for May 11, 2024. But on the night of May 10, 2024, Kelepi filed an urgent court application before Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe to interdict the BPP, which was represented by attorney Tshekiso Tshekiso, from barring him from taking part in the primary election.
