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.
Justice Ketlogetswe issued a ruli nisi (an order upon condition that is to become absolute unless cause is shown to the contrary) in favour of Kelepi stopping the primaries from taking place on Saturday. Read the temporary order: “It is ordered that the BPP is interdicted from holding and/or continuing the primary elections scheduled for 11th May 2024 at Shashe/Bridge Tati-Siding South pending finalisation of this application. The BPP is hereby ordered to include Kelepi in the list of nominated council candidates for Shashe/Bridge Tati Siding South and he be allowed to stand for primary elections.” However, Kelepi’s decision to be a self actor in the matter before Justice Ketlogetswe dealt him a heavy blow. Justice Ketlogetswe struck out Kelepi’s application on technicalities because of Kelepi’s failure to fully understand legal processes and/or procedures. “The respondents are saying that the affidavit that you filed before court was not properly commissioned and this means that this is the end of this matter. The respondents are saying that the affidavit that you filed before court does not show the rank of the person (police officer) who signed it,” said Ketlogetswe... In conclusion, Ketlogetswe said: “If a proper affidavit has not been filed before court, this application has to be struck out. The order of this court therefore is that this application is struck out with costs.”
When asked if the BPP will take any disciplinary action against Kelepi for taking it to court, Ntsima answered in the affirmative but without stating an exact date when that will happen. “The BPP will of course take disciplinary action against Kelepi for taking it to court in due course. Members of the BPP are not allowed to take the party to court before exhausting internal remedies. The national executive committee (NEC) will meet in due course to decide when disciplinary action against Kelepi shall be taken,” said Ntsima.
