Botswana National Front (BNF) suspended executive members say they do not recognize BNF president Duma Boko’s decision to suspend four of them from the party.
Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, the BNF’s deputy secretary general, confirmed receiving a letter of suspension on Friday but added she did not recognise the suspension.
She said she does not recognize the suspension as she and other members have been active in party politics and she dismissed the allegations that the suspensions are a result of continued disregard of the party resolutions by other party members. She said her letter does not indicate when the suspension will end.
“There are rumours that Boko is saying that we have used the party funds and is he also part of that in his capacity as the president,” she said.
Kgafela-Mokoka further stated that the suspended group has been running the party with their own money.
“The preferred members of Boko’s circle are of no value to the party and do not have any plans to help the party progress,” she said.
She stated that they have been implementing the decisions taken by the central committee.
BNF chairman, Harry Mothei also, echoed Kgafela’s sentiments, saying that he, along with Magama and Bantsi, do not take the suspension seriously.
He said that Boko does not have the power to suspend the executive committee and added that only the Central Committee can suspend one of its members.
“The constitution section he has been quoting is totally irrelevant; there is no emergency and he is just creating it. Boko is afraid to debate with other members I have observed that he is suffering from amnesia and prolonged adolescence. We do not respect his procedures and everyone is watching him destroy the party,” Mothei fumed.
On Thursday, Boko exercised the powers vested in him under the party Constitution to suspend Magama, who has been Secretary General, Mothei, Kgafela- Mokoka – as well as Maemo Bantsi who is the party’s labour affairs secretary.
Boko also revealed he had appointed a Commission to investigate, among other things, the conduct of the suspended members and make appropriate recommendations to the Party. The Commission is chaired by Oteng Motlhala, Joba Nnnoi as the secretary and also Henry Kgame.
Meanwhile, BNFYL have also endorsed the suspension of executive members as it recommended to the party president last week.
BNF youth Secretary General, Arafat Khan, said that it is unfortunate that the BNF executive committee is torn between BCP and BDP. He said there is a crisis in the BNF created to destabilize the BNF and certain members are being used.
”Isaac Mabiletsa must cease making reckless statements in the media; he has no powers to do so, he is not the party spokesperson,” said Khan.
