BNF denies favouring Reatile faction

Mompati Tlhankane | Monday July 24, 2023 06:00

Although allegedly expelled president Biggie Butale claims that he is still the president and has approached the court to fight his nemesis, professed acting BPF president Reatile was introduced formally as the ‘acting’ president of the BPF at the BNF annual conference in Shoshong over the holidays. Reatile, who is a Jwaneng-Mabutsane legislator, was there alongside party spokesperson Lawrence Ookeditse and they were sitting at the top table. The BNF president Duma Boko even gave Ookeditse and Reatile a warm welcome. Both Ookeditse and Reatile were allegedly suspended by Butale for causing chaos within the party. This was days after Butale was suspended by one Barulaganye Letang who he purports, as secretary of the Disciplinary Committee (DC). With Reatile now recognised as the acting president, Butale on the other hand was nowhere to be found at the BNF congress. Even before the alleged expulsion, Butale has never appeared publicly with the BPF allies being the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition that encompasses the BNF, the outgoing Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana People’s Party (BPP). Asked what recognising Reatile instead of Butale means for the two factions, the BNF secretary-general Ketlhalefile Motshegwa told Mmegi in an interview that they issued an invitation to a political party and who comes as a representative is not up to them.

He emphasised that as the BNF they have no say. “We don’t prescribe party representatives. What we did is that in preparation for the conference we issued an invitation as early as June 9 to all political parties and trade unions. We are concerned about the affairs of the BNF so we deal with organisations not individuals,” he said. Motshegwa added that they sent the invitation to the offices of secretary-general (SG) of the BPF. He said when there are challenges in any political party, they don’t intervene but hope for the parties to resolve their issues. “We hope that all the political parties that we work with can attain stability. Our policy is that of non-interference unless they invite us to mediate,” he said. Asked to comment on their invitation and eventual recognition by the BNF, Ookeditse said the invite was sent to the BPF so they came through. He said there was no way Butale could have come because he was suspended and then expelled. Butale was allegedly suspended by BPF secretary-general Tshekedi Khama. Butale does not recognise the expulsion and has since taken the matter to court. “The expulsion of Butale hold up until it is uplifted. As it is at the moment, he is expelled and there is no way he could have been here in Shoshong,” Ookeditse said. Ookediste, who is still recovering from his recent detention by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), clarified that the BNF is not taking sides but rather the latter only sent an invitation to the BPF as an organisation. “Reatile is the acting president of the BPF and Butale is expelled so there is no confusion as to who is at the helm. An expelled person cannot suspend anyone.

The BPF is not a joke, Butale is the joke,” he highlighted. Ookeditse said what they are doing at the moment is straightening up the party, which was formed on the eve of the 2019 General Election. He said what they want to do is to vote a new national executive committee (NEC) by the end of August. Also contacted for comment at the BNF conference, purported BPF acting president Reatile emphasised that they were not invited rather the BPF was. “We don’t have factions. Butale was suspended by the DC not us, we don’t have the powers to suspend him. His employer told him not to respect the BPF constitution and he will continue doing so,” he said. Butale has been accused of working with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and is allegedly hired by the DIS. Reatile said they were in Shoshong to continue their alliance with the BNF which is a UDC member. “We are not deterred because we know where we are going. The Elective congress, however, will be called by the general membership where they will elect the leadership they want,” he said. Reatile said Butale has been afraid of his own shadows therefore was fearful of calling an elective congress. “Butale said he was not afraid of elections but it seems like he is so terrified. He was worried that Khama will stand for elections and even refused to meet Khama for a possible resolution,” Reatile pointed out. Butale, however, in his founding affidavit claims that Ookeditse has issued an unauthorised and unlawful correspondence to the UDC on July 10, 2023 (six days before the BNF conference). He states that this letter though deliberately not made under the standard party letterhead of the BPF, still bears the party colours and deliberately uses the party emblem. The former Tati West legislator has ignored his expulsion and has instead urged individuals not to act without his involvement and recognition as president of the party.

He now wants an order that would see Reatile and Ookediste among others jailed for undermining his authority and that of the court. The BPF presidency legitimacy matters will be determined by the court but for now, it seems the UDC and its members recognise Reatile as the acting president.