My absence won’t dampen BPF – Khama
Mompati Tlhankane | Tuesday June 21, 2022 06:00
Khama is the patron of the party that was formed on the eve of the 2019 general elections and he is currently in self-imposed exile in South Africa (SA).
For so long, the party has always relied on the Khama magic because he was their main campaigner in 2019 and managed to help the new-kid-on-the-political-block to win three parliamentary seats, specifically in Serowe.
Quizzed about the possibility of his absence dampening the strength of the BPF ahead of 2024, Khama told The Monitor that his absence won’t dampen the party.
Khama has always assumed the role of the ‘godfather’ and chief adviser of the BPF. In the build up to 2019 general elections, the former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) leader was all over the political show, addressing rallies which attracted electrifying crowds.
Khama’s endless countrywide tours kept the mighty BDP on its toes and that might not happen again if he doesn’t return. Some opposition victories in the northern hemisphere could not have been possible without the influence of the BPF and Khama’s ‘never-die’ attitude.
“As for my absence from Botswana, I can assure you that I am very much involved on the ground in Botswana. I prefer not to reveal how I am assisting whilst here, but my absence will not affect the performance of the BPF in the build up to 2024,” he said.
Khama said all this talk about his absence affecting BPF is a mind game played by those who cannot contain the unstoppable growth and impact of the party.
“We are working with the collective opposition in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and make no mistake we will defeat the BDP in a free and fair election,” he highlighted.
Since he left for SA a lot has happened at the party. Amongst others, it has dissolved its disciplinary committee (DC) after it failed to timely handle a disciplinary hearing for its suspended president, Biggie Butale.
Butale was slapped with a suspension pending a disciplinary hearing early last year, but to this day he is yet to undergo a hearing. He was suspended for allegedly sexually violating a student and party activist. But he denies any wrongdoing.
Also BPF secretary-general, Tshekedi Khama fled the country two months ago to join his brother in the self-imposed exile.
“The BPF would like to confirm that SG Khama is in South Africa to brief the party patron and his brother Ian Khama. We expect the SG back in the country in due course,” BPF revealed in a statement at the time.
The SG has since not returned and has even missed the funeral of his sister, Jaqueline Tebogo Khama who passed away last month.
In his absence, the Serowe West legislator’s controversial campaign manager, Emmanuel Orateng resigned from the BPF to join the BDP. Orateng was serving as the National Chairperson of DC. In April, Oboetswe Gabotlale resigned from his position as chairperson of the BPF and did not state reasons.
BPF has achieved a lot in its formative phase and going into the 2024 general elections and opposition talks it has a point to prove that it is not just a Khama family affair.
BPF has a task to thrive beyond the confines of the Central District and before he left, Khama was the man to make the party go national.