The Botswana National Front (BNF) on Friday announced the resignation of six members from the central committee.
BNF Publicity Secretary, Moeti Mohwasa, says BNF president, Duma Boko, accepts the resignation of Isaac Mabiletsa, who was the vice president, Harry Mothei, the former chairman, deputy secretary general Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, labour secretary Maemo Bantsi, Mephato Reatile secretary for international affairs as well as Tiny Kojane who was an additional member.
“Our committee initially had 18 members and after these recent resignations, we are left with 13 central committee members and also we would like to thank them for the sterling contribution they have made to the growth of the party over the years,” said Mohwasa.
He stated that to ratify the suspension of the four central committee members Mothei, Akanyang Magama, Nono Kgafela-Mokoka and Maemo Bantsi, Boko earlier suspended the above four members in terms of Section 19.3.1, which reads, “The president of the BNF shall have power to take action in the interests of the party pending convocation of any relevant body or organ of the Party in cases of emergency”. He further said the central committee resolved further that charges should be brought against the four comrades as soon as possible.
Contacted for comment, MP Mephato Reatile told the Sunday Standard that he decided to resign from the committee as there are a lot of misunderstandings within the party, adding that he observed that BNF has been abandoned by active and focused leaders.
Reatile said that he only resigned from the central committee but not from the party.
“Maybe I am blocking some developments within the party and I decided to step back,” he said. “I have heard speculation around that I am heading for the Botswana Congress Party and it is not true as I do not have that intension. I am not sure about contesting for 2014 general elections,” said Reatile.
Another resigned member, Isaac Mabiletsa, said they took action because they cannot be party to flagrant violation of the central committee resolutions, party rules and procedures, including of the BNF constitution and central committee resolutions by Boko, whereby upon being advised that he flouted the rules of procedure, he decides to suspend some members so that he can carry on flouting the rules, fully knowing he has weakened the central committee.
Mabiletsa further stated that the relationship amongst the executive members was harmonious until the collapse of the umbrella talks on December 22 last year. He said it should be noted that their interest is to ensure that they protect the image of the BNF hence all along, with all the attacks from Boko, they have been quiet.
“Following Boko’s meeting with general membership, the executive committee agreed that the president should refrain from attacking other members and resolved that in all the meetings he addresses, he should be accompanied by his executive committee members. This has not materialized to date,” said Mabiletsa.
He said their silence did not mean that they are docile and stupid over Boko’s addresses, moving around as well as in the airwaves trashing and discrediting members of the BNF executive committee.
