I'm still BPF president – Butale
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 31, 2023 06:00
However, Butale still has hope for reconciliation with his nemesis. “I am still the BPF president.
The judgment of Justice Michael Motlhabi still stands and it will be unfortunate if my party members believe that party disciplinary hearing committee could overrule court decisions. That court decision was made recently while they were continuing with their process.
They will be in trouble with the law if they could keep on misreading judgment. As the party president I wish we could put our differences aside and have a common goal which is taking power from the ruling party, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP),” Butale told Mmegi in an interview this week. According to him, the dust will settle, and the party leadership soon will unite again for the preparation of 2024 General Election.
Even if it is clear that BPF leadership do not want him anymore, as they believe that he is being used by BDP, his believe is that some people want to tarnish his good image.
“I want evidence that I was bought with P2, 500 and that indeed BDP had bought a house for me,” he said. He said once the court cases are over, as the leadership they need to bring members together and move forward.
He said he does not believe in expelling people since it divides the party. To him, all is not lost like many may think as he believes that their misunderstanding is based on the interpretation of the constitution and how certain decisions could be taken. Butale said he believes that the BPF leadership has common vision as he has and if not, then they would have no choice but to go separate ways. He said even if he wins what he hopes will be the last court case, he will talk to the camp that expelled him to find amicable solution in order to continue to work together. However, Butale said if it fails then it will be sad, but he does not want to witness the party that he believes in being split or divided.
Currently, Butale still believes that the courts of law are the ones that could solve the internal problems within his party leadership. Butale is still in denial that he had lost the masses on the ground and that the Khama family is in charge of the BPF. Recently, former president Ian Khama made it clear to his supporters at Learala and Serowe rallies that he does not like a person who takes him to court and that members must not support such person. This week party spokesperson Lawrence Ookeditse, who is in Butale’s rival faction, said the members have lost trust in Butale as a leader. “One cannot run an organisation if the members think they are illegitimate. You can lose the faith and the trust of the people you are leading. You can run to court and do everything but you can’t hide. We are not fighting Butale.
He is fighting his own organisation,” he pointed out. The recent Serowe West constituency by- election has also proved that the Khama family is still in charge of those areas and still holds command amongst party members. For one to survive in politics, he or she must be in full control of the masses, but Butale seems to have managed to pull some leaders in his favour, but majority of the people are with the Khama family. Alleged acting president Mephato Reatile on the other side told the media this week that Butale is jealous because he is not popular amongst the masses. He alleged that Butale was jealous of UDC president Duma Boko recently in Serowe when the latter charmed the masses. Meanwhile political analyst Lesole Machacha said it is possible that BPF could unite after court cases if they can put their differences aside.
“The problem with BPF is similar to Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) where members are calling for national congress, but the party president is failing to hold for it,” Machacha said in an interview on Thursday:. “The only thing that could resolve BPF mess is national congress which Butale is not willing to call for it. This is the best method for party members to take him out and put the one that they want. Of course, the masses might not want him, but it has not been tested due to failure to hold an elective congress.” Machacha also emphasised that Butale might lose grip if he focuses much on court issues and neglect his members.
The analyst said there is need for BPF leadership to call its members so that they could help them to resolve internal issues. He said the reason why BPF, is having differences is because it never held conferences nor congress to enable members to give mandate to party leadership and also to decide on their leaders. In addition, he said there was need for party gatherings after COVID-19 pandemic but rather some parties are slowly reluctant to call for such key gatherings.
He said failure to call such gatherings by leadership may cause members also to revolt against leadership. He further said if opposition parties do not cooperate, then BDP will still have an upper hand in the 2024 General Election. Butale’s leadership has been marred by controversy and he has never found peace since he took over leadership. Since last year Butale has been running to courts in order to safeguard his presidency. So far, he has won three cases against BPF leadership.