BPF legislators to unite warring factions
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday October 17, 2022 06:00
The BPF is divided into two camps, one led by current acting president Caroline Lesang and the other led by suspended president Biggie Butale. The two factions’ issues heated up when Butale, who was suspended for sexual misconduct last year, announced during a press conference recently that he has assumed his duties as president, a move which was not welcomed by Lesang.
Lesang immediately approached the High Court to interdict Butale and prevent him from presenting himself as the BPF president. The High Court on Tuesday ruled in Lesang’s favour and the judgement further escalated rumours of a breakaway party led by the displeased Butale and company. In an interview, Serowe North MP Baratiwa Mathoothe felt there is no winner in the case involving Lesang and Butale.
“There is no winner in this case because the fight was between three party leaders. As MPs for the party, we have agreed to find ways to try to sit down with the two ‘factions’ in order to solve their differences. Political issues cannot be fought in court so we have to resolve them internally. What is important is for the two factions to meet and reach a compromise on some of the issues,” he said.
Mathoothe emphasised that the issue is not about who is going to be a leader, rather it should be about what is good for the party. Mathoothe was quick to indicate that all is not lost since there is room for reconciliation.
“Both parties can still work together. The love for our party should prevail over everything,” the MP further stressed.
The Serowe North MP added that they need each other in the 2024 General Election and differences attract enemies leading to further divisions. He said as the BPF MPs, they will work hard to make reconciliation work and for the party to find peace again. In addition, Mathoothe said they are still looking for ways in which to engage the two factions fairly. Mathoothe said if their strategy fails then that is when they will engage independent people to mediate.
“Our hope is for the BPF to be united again and to enjoy prolonged peace. It has to be clear that the fights within the BPF are only at the leadership level not at the party structures. Members at the structures level are united. As party structures, we have requested for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) cooperation to be discussed fairly. We all support it but we wanted proper consultation. That’s all that structures are calling for,” he pointed out.
Still on the matter, Mathoothe said as MPs they do not believe that the congress should be held on October 28, 2022 because it is too soon. He also said the congress should be held after party leadership differences are ironed out.
Mathoothe stated that the decision to go ahead with the congress is bad as their differences will affect ordinary members. Furthermore, he said the urgent court case judgement delivered this week had affected the preparation for the congress. He said the congress can still be postponed to next month or any other month when all proper preparations are done accordingly.