Gaborone Lawyer, Duma Boko, who was recently stopped from contesting as a presidential candidate in the upcoming Botswana National Front (BNF) elective congress, has made a demand to the party leadership, appealing its decision to bar him.
Boko has written a letter to the party leadership protesting against the BNF central committee’s decision to disqualify him. The letter was reportedly served on the party leadership on Friday.
In an interview with The Sunday Standard, Boko confirmed that he had indeed written to the party leadership but would, however, not disclose the contents of the letter.
“I have written to them responding to a letter that they wrote to me, I raised several issues they will apply their mind to,” said Boko.
In a separate interview, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Moeti Mohwasa, revealed that he was not aware that Boko had launched an appeal with the party central committee.
Mohwasa said that the party leadership would meet on Monday, adding that if indeed Boko had written to the party central committee, then the issue might be discussed at the party’s next meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Monday).
“If there is a letter that has been delivered then it will be looked at on Monday,” said Mohwasa.
Boko was disqualified by the BNF leadership from contesting in the upcoming central committee elections following a finding that he was one of the founding members of the BNF’s splinter party, New Democratic Front (NDF).
Although he has been barred from running for the BNF’s top post, Boko continues to campaign for the BNF’s presidency and has made it public that he intends to run for the party’s top job. The party’s youth league has already released a statement endorsing Boko’s candidature and criticizing the party leadership’s decision to bar him.
The youth league is of the view that Boko was not given a chance to defend himself against a finding that he was a member of the NDF.
It is reported that some constituency have already written to the party leadership.
With Boko barred from contesting, the race for the party leadership has been left to Gabriel Kanjabanga and the leader of the opposition, Olebile Gaborone.
