The real battle begins

Motswaledi wants the court to do the following: set aside his suspension by Khama, stop the party effecting the suspension holding a new primary election in Gaborone Central; and to prevent the respondents from taking any steps to approve anyone, apart from him, as a candidate for the constituency.

In his founding affidavit Motswaledi explained that the party, in addition to the constitution, is also governed by rules and regulations which govern discliplinary proceedings and the conduct of primary elections. His argument is that central to the BDP is democracy and consultation in all decision-making processes from which "both ordinary members and office bearers have come to have a legitimate expectation that the affairs of the BDP be conducted in accordance with such practices and customs". He submitted that his suspension runs counter to the general spirit of the BDP constitution as well as the established regulations.