Members of the Botswana Congress Party Youth League (BCPYL) executive committee have accused some of their party members for forsaking them at a time when they needed them most.
The committee members said that only a handful of people from their party had stood by them through their trying period.
These included Secretary General, Kesitegile Gobotswang, and lawyer Dick Bayford.
Youth League President Lotty Manyapetsa and outgoing Secretary General, Thato Osupile, were last year charged with criminal trespassing after a disruption of a political debate at Botswana Television (BTV) premises.
The two were later hauled before the courts to face charges of threatening breach of peace and violence.
Manyapetsa said that they wanted to caution BCP members to always be careful and not become judgemental like they did with the case against them because the BDP can easily divide their movement by false accusations.
“We announce that the state has withdrawn the case, citing insufficient evidence meaning there was no peace threatened or any violence caused by the BCP youth league as was alleged,” said Osupile.
Addressing a press conference that was attended by Youth League presidents from opposition parties of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), Armstrong Dikgafela, and the Botswana National Front (BNF), Kagiso Ntime, Manyapetsa revealed that they are contemplating legal action against some of the people who played a part in dragging their name through the mud.
He said that because of legalities, he was not in a position to say exactly what their next course of action would be.
The thing that irked him the most is the fact they are going to have to cover their legal fees and they would not be compensated.
The youth league also announced resignation of three of its members, Osupile, The Deputy President Lorato Tsogwane and the Information and Publicity Secretary, Seabelo Thekiso, who are resigning because of work commitments.
Olebile Sikwane will take over Thekiso’s position while Leungo Mathaio takes over from Tsogwane.Oarabile Motlaleng and Kealeboga Pikinini will take over as Secretary General and national treasurer, respectively, while Paballo Mabeo serves as correspondence secretary.
Manyapetsa took a swipe at the BDP government, which he says is misusing public funds in Tonota North to campaign against the opposition.
He said that it has now become evident that the BDP government did not believe in women empowerment as shown by the president’s recent appointments in key government positions such as BEDIA, and specially elected members of parliament.
“We are therefore concerned about the silence and lack of support for Dr Habaudi Hobona from women organisations such as Emang Basadi and Caucus for women in politics. It will be ironic and suicidal for women’s organisations to remain silent at a time when one of their own needs their support in the political arena where men are most dominant,” said Manyapetsa.
