Botswana Movement for Democracy has not held a single party policy forum since the current Central Committee was elected almost two years ago. This has meant that the party has not been able to renew its policy postures, as the members have not had a chance to meet on the matter. This emerged at a recent public meeting addressed by BMD Vice President Wynter Mmolotsi.
For a party that has always prided itself on its strong policies that offer alternatives to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, this has not escaped the public attention.
Such a failing is also being raised and highlighted as infighting intensifies ahead of elective Congress early next month. The current BMD policy director is Dr Tlamelo Mmatli. He is also a Member of Parliament for Molepolole South.
Crucially, Dr Mmatli is a ranking member of the current side of the party that is controlled by Chairman, Nehemiah Modubule and party secretary General Gilbert Mangole.
This side is at the heart of ongoing attempts expel party leader, Ndaba Gaolathe.
A former academic at the University of Botswana, Mmatli also ranks high as Vice president in the lobby list that has at its helm, Modubule as president. While he has recently called for reconciliation of the party’s warring divides, Mmatli was among the people named as a possible replacement to Gaolathe when the party national executive committee took a contested decision to suspend party president Ndaba Gaolathe and his deputy, Mmolotsi among others. Dr Mmatli came out to say he was not acting president, ostensibly to avert attracting direct ire of Gaolathe followers in the party.
While the constitution says the Chairman shall act as Leader during suspension of substantive, Modubule has also rejected efforts to sell him as acting leader of the BMD.
At the meeting, Mmatli was accused of failing in his policy portfolio because he is too busy with his pseudo factional roles.
