BNF suspends Bontshetse
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday September 2, 2014 13:30
BNF secretary general, Ferdinand Kgosikoma told Mmegi in an interview the party took the decision to suspend Bontshetse pending completion of the investigations into allegations that he had been speaking to the media without authority.
He stressed there was no time-frame for Bontshetse’s suspension. He further told Mmegi that the BNF was not going to take the matter lying down, as the process waspart of disciplining its wayward members.
“Every BNF member is aware of the party constitution and the code of conduct as guiding tools to disciplinary action,” he told Mmegi.
He indicated that no matter who spoke to the media without authority, the party would deal with such a person in an endeavour to maintain order in the party.
However Bontshetse said he was yet to receive a suspension letter from the party.
“I have however, heard rumours that I have been suspended from the party for speaking to the media on sensitive party matters.I am on my way to Gaborone, but I am told that the suspension letter is in Tonota, “ he said.
The BNF leadership recently recalled Bontshetse from the BNF candidacy in Tonota. Pono Moatlhodi, who in April crossed the floor to the BNF after acrimoniously losing the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Bulela Ditswe primaries, replaced him. Thapelo Olopeng ousted Moatlhodi in his bid to seek re-election under the BDP ticket.
Bontshetse recently gave BNF seven days to reconsider its decision to recall him, failing which he would take the matter to court.
Bontshetse also demanded that the party central committee reinstate him as a candidate for Tonota, failing which he was ready to instruct his attorneys to institute action.
It is Bontshetse’s view that the BNF leadership flouted the party’s rules and regulations relating to primary elections.
He has argued that the BNF procedure as outlined in Clause 9.1 of the Primary Election Rules and Regulations for Selection of Parliamentary and Local Government Candidates suggests that there ought to be a recommendation from the constituency general membership to the central committee for a recall to be declared fair and procedural.
Such a recall should be made at least 90 days before the general elections.
“My recall does not conform to this procedure as I am recalled by the executive committee of the BNF with no recommendation from anyone and further on baseless and unfounded allegations which I was never called to answer for,” he had argued in his appeal letter.