Team Bucs to 'interdict' BNF congress
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 18, 2022 06:00
Molatlhegi, an attorney by profession, revealed yesterday at a press conference: 'We are still consulting with the attorneys regarding the outcome of this week's court case on whether they stand a good chance for appeal or not.'
He asserted that they have handed the court matter to their attorneys to assess whether it is necessary to appeal or not following Gaborone High Court's Justice Gabriel Komboni dismissing an application brought by two members, Kgakgamatso Kebiditswe and Tlamelo Mpodi, seeking an interdiction of the June congress.
'It must be clear that we love our party. But what we are currently fighting against is the unlawful procedure perpetuated by the party leadership. We will continue to fight for deliberation. However, we are happy that the court did not agree with the party when it claimed that it does not know the two members who took it to court,' Molatlhegi told the press.
He added: 'That was embarrassing for the party to say so. This is a political battle and we shall fight it that way.”
He further explained that they will not back down from contesting for party positions just because they have lost their court case but rather it has made them soldier on the more.
He noted that his team has more trust and faith in BNF members than the party leadership since congress is the highest decision-making body of the party.
A disappointed Molatlhegi, however, said: 'We have never experienced hatred, attacks, abuse, and thuggery in the BNF like now when we declared to challenge the current party president, Boko, in the weekend elective congress.'
He said some of their supporters have withdrawn because they fear victimisation as they are told that they would not have a chance to contest for party primary elections.
He added delegates from constituencies that are known to be in support of him were not accepted or registered.
'Some of those constituencies include Gaborone South, Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mmathethe/Molapowabojwang amongst others,' he listed some of the areas.
Apart from the delegates' issues, Molatlhegi pleaded with BNF members to take control of their party to ensure that no one goes against the constitution.
He said they should ensure that there is unity and cooperation amongst members and that those who criticise the leadership in good faith should not be castigated for practising their democratic right.
Molatlhegi added their campaign was wounded by the fact that some of the campaign managers in their team were suspended whilst the team was also blocked from addressing the media.
He added: “What was very surprising the most was that we were not even allowed to seek support from our own members as candidates for the coming elective congress. How are we going to solicit support while we are not allowed to campaign while the other team continued to address regions and constituencies? 'The party congress should give guidance on these issues going forward. We should not let our party be captured by some people. That is why some have started to allocate BNF constituencies to the Botswana Patriotic Front.”