BPF should put its house in order

Mmegi Editor | Monday July 24, 2023 06:00

There are many examples including that of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), another splinter party from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

It (BMD) literally fell from grace to grass. Even its offspring, the Alliance for Progressives (AP) would later surpass it. For some time, the BMD was almost defunct without political activity until Nehemiah Modubule and others took the initiative of resuscitating the fortunes of a fallen giant without success.

Although Modubule and company did their best, recent indications are that things will never be the same as the party is struggling to recover from the feuds that had found a permanent home in the BMD.

If the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), a party that was founded with a view of unseating the ruling BDP from power doesn’t end its leadership feuds, it is headed for big trouble. The BPF outdid itself in the 2019 General Election by winning three crucial parliamentary seats at its first attempt. It duly unseated the ruling BDP from some of its strongest headlocks in the Central District capital, Serowe and made stronger assists elsewhere. Now, four years later, the party is engulfed in one of the gruelling political skirmishes that continue to steal peace from its ranks.

Leadership feuds seem to be diminishing interest in a party that was destined to reach greater heights given its promising appeal. Returnees that recently retraced their steps back to the BDP, reinforce this trepidation.

The BPF is now literally run through decisions of the courts of law. For the umpteenth time now the party president, Biggie Butale has rushed to court to rescue himself from the interference of some party leaders who want him out. The party's internal wrangling nearly spoiled the party victory in a hard fought parliamentary by-election a fortnight ago, as even before the winner, Onalepelo Kedikilwe was sworn-in as the new Serowe West MP, Butale had suspended some BPF executive leadership members including vice president Mephato Reatile. Butale himself would later be slapped with a letter purporting to expel him from the party without trial.

This circus is battering the good image of the BPF. And these ugly developments have potential to reverse all what the party had gained over time. For the party to be relevant again, it is time that the leadership take up responsibility and put their house in order.

There is growing suspicion that former president Ian Khama, who is also party patron, wants to ensure that the properly elected party president, Butale is removed from the party presidency by hook or crook. Khama has expressed interest in the BPF presidency and he doesn’t seem ready to respect democratic processes established by his own party for one to rise to the position of party president.

Khama should exercise caution if indeed the allegations are correct, as he is setting a bad precedent in the party. His action(s) might confirm fears that he has no respect for democracy.

Today’s thought

“Good order is the foundation of all things.”-Edmund Burke