'BNF structures are too weak to handle protests'

Isaiah Morewagae | Friday January 31, 2014 17:38

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE

Staff Writer

he Botswana National Front (BNF) has blamed inefficiencies in its regional and constituency structures for the delays in resolving protests arising from the party primaries held last year. While other parties have moved to deal with complaints from the primaries, the BNF has been slow off the blocks with signs that appellants may wait even longer to get justice.

He explained that the delay has been caused by the fact that the party structures at regional and constituency levels were inefficient in dealing with the protests.

'Our main problem is that our party structures at regions and constituency levels were not meeting thus delayed the progress of resolving protests,' Kgosikoma said. He said the party has delayed in dealing with protests from Kanye South, Mmathethe/Molapowabojang and Gaborone South. He stated that the BNF National Appeals Board has been contacting officials in the three constituencies and hopefully, the party will begin dealing with primary election protests in the coming week.

All people who appealed the results of the BNF primaries have cited gross irregularities in the way the exercise was conducted. In Kanye South, former civil servant Geoffrey Serebolo is appealing his loss to incumbent MP and BNF chairman, Abram Kesupile.

In Molapowabojang/Mmathethe, Jacob Dikuelo has protested his loss to Rev Dr Prince Dibeela.

In Gaborone South, Kgosikoma said only one of the three losing parliamentary candidates have protested primary elections' results. Meshack Mthimukulu who came second to Murray Dipate is said to be protesting the loss. Others who contested the primaries in the constituency are veteran activist Joel Phalaagae and former Old Naledi councillor Roy Mafunga.

While other parties have moved to deal with complaints from the primaries, the BNF has been slow off the blocks with signs that appellants may wait even longer to get justice.

BNF secretary general, Tapiso Kgosikoma admitted that there have been delays in resolving the issues pertaining to elections but emphasised that the party is working round the clock to ensure that complaints are heard and determined. He explained that the delay has been caused by the fact that the party structures at regional and constituency levels were inefficient in dealing with the protests. 'Our main problem is that our party structures at regions and constituency levels were not meeting thus delayed the progress of resolving protests,' Kgosikoma said. He said the party has delayed in dealing with protests from Kanye South, Mmathethe/Molapowabojang and Gaborone South.

He stated that the BNF National Appeals Board has been contacting officials in the three constituencies and hopefully, the party will begin dealing with primary election protests in the coming week. All people who appealed the results of the BNF primaries have cited gross irregularities in the way the exercise was conducted. In Kanye South, former civil servant Geoffrey Serebolo is appealing his loss to incumbent MP and BNF chairman, Abram Kesupile.

In Molapowabojang/Mmathethe, Jacob Dikuelo has protested his loss to Rev Dr Prince Dibeela. In Gaborone South, Kgosikoma said only one of the three losing parliamentary candidates have protested primary elections' results. Meshack Mthimukulu who came second to Murray Dipate is said to be protesting the loss. Others who contested the primaries in the constituency are veteran activist Joel Phalaagae and former Old Naledi councillor Roy Mafunga.