Khama lambasts Butale at BPF rally
Mompati Tlhankane | Tuesday June 6, 2023 06:00
Speaking to BPF members virtually during a party rally in Serowe last weekend, Khama said Butale goes around telling people that they have buried the hatchet. Since Butale took back the BPF presidency after one year of suspension, he and Khama have been at loggerheads specifically because the latter wants the presidency of the party for himself.
Recently Butale had to run to court where he successfully defended his presidential position with a ruling in his favour. Talking about Butale like he was not at the rally, Khama said he doesn’t get along with people who take him to court. He disclosed that it had been six months and in that period Butale had never picked up a phone to call him as the BPF patron. “I don’t want Butale and others to deceive you when they use my name. There are others who used my name to convince you.
I don’t agree with people who want to break apart the BPF because we come from far,” he said. Some members of the BPF National Executive Committee (NEC) last Thursday met with Khama and the party’s secretary-general (SG) Tshekedi Khama in Rustenburg, South Africa. Khama revealed that when Butale was approached about meeting with him in South Africa to talk about their differences, the former refused. “What does this show if we want to move forward with unity?
They should not pretend to be BPF members who love the party but not peace,” he said. Khama indicated that he is not afforded the opportunity to address the members at BPF rallies. He pointed out that he was able to address BPF members on the day because BPF vice president, Mephato Reatile, had requested it. “When Butale holds rallies he doesn’t give me that chance to speak or greet BPF members. He did that sometime in Letlhakane so I don’t agree with such people,” he added.
Khama said he doesn’t like what Butale did by suspending members of the NEC without consulting the NEC. Khama also emphasised that the BPF NEC never consulted Tshekedi about the upcoming Serowe West by-election since he was the legislator. “They never asked if Tshekedi wanted to contest again and finish his five-year term.
Instead, they ran around calling for expressions of interest and even set a date for the primary elections. They should not flout the process just to put their own people only,” he noted.
He said should Tshekedi decide to contest again he will see if they will block him. Khama, who is in a self-imposed exile in South Africa admitted that it is human nature to have a difference of opinion but he highlighted that when it comes to the party constitution people should not bend it to their will. He said such people postpone elections because they want to hang to their leadership positions. “I don’t agree with people who said the BPF is a party for the Bangwato tribe. Right now they are there with you but they say the party is for Bangwato.” He applauded Reatile for bringing the party’s NEC to a meeting in Rustenburg last Thursday.
“We sat down with the NEC including the SG where we talked about BPF unity,” he said. Khama said there are rumours that some members of the BPF want to form a breakaway party but he will try to speak with them to desist from such. After Khama’s address, Butale briefly spoke to BPF members asking them not to be worried. “Ke ntate ke tla go bua le ene (He is my father I will talk to him) and I can handle him. In the next rally, he will tell you that I am his son. Don’t ever think the party will break apart, it won’t,” he assured members.