"They had no mandate and no authority to do that. It is unprecedented that a law firm gives a public statement on behalf of the party without the permission of the executive. In the past they have never done this. It shows there is malice in what they are doing. If as legal professionals they will now become public personae in public space it is regrettable indeed," Motswaledi said this after Collins and Newman law firm released a press statement saying that Khama acted within his powers to unilaterally appoint people to BDP sub-committees and more members to the Central Committee. Khama has been snubbing the current members of the BDP Central Committee, which defied him to give his candidates a total whitewash at the party polls last month. This has heightened tension in the party with signs that the Central Committee that is controlled by the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction is in danger of being made toothless by Khama's modus operandi.
To resolve the impasse, the BDP recently hired Collins and Newman law firm and legal consultants Peter Collins and Sidney Pilane to study its constitution, especially the parts that deal with the powers of the president versus those of the Central Committee. Party insiders have accused Khama of having acted outside his powers in appointing committees and most specifically renewing the contract of BDP executive secretary Dr Comma Serema. It is said the consultants were engaged specifically to end the tussle between Khama and the Central Committee over party appointments.
