Some structures of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) who are aligned to Vice President Slumber Tsogwane have been accused of abusing their positions by systematically failing to ensure that the upcoming elective congress is fair and the playing field level.
It has emerged that aspiring BDP Chairman Nonofo Molefhi has suffered a blow to his chances of ousting Tsogwane after he was blocked from addressing Ngami constituency delegates over the weekend.
The former Cabinet Minister had sought to lobby for votes during the Ngami constituency elective congress for delegates.
Molefhi confirmed to this publication that indeed he was denied an opportunity to addresss the delegates without any reasons.
He highlighted that even though his fellow party members have continued to deny him the opportunity to address delegates he would soldier on. He added that it was unfortunate and disheartening that some people have chosen to conduct party affairs in a manner that is likely to compromise the integrity of the upcoming congress.
“The people who are doing this are the people in the party structures who should accord all candidates a level playing field,” said Molefhi.
He stated that it was evident that the affairs of the party are not being run properly adding that official party structures should not be aligned.
Molefhi warned that a decision by some party structures to align themselves will erode inner party democracy.
“This is not a new phenomenon because I have attended four or five congresses where His Honour the Vice President Slumber Tsogwane was a guest speaker and every single time he completes his address on the general issues around the party, he would then present himself as a candidate for party chairmanship position in my presence,” said Molefhi.
Molefhi said he had attended the Kweneng West congress wherein he was not offered an opportunity to introduce his candidacy although the Vice President was given that opportunity.
“I also attended the Kweneng East congress, the same thing happened. I further went on to attended congresses of Gaborone constituencies, His Honour presented himself and I was not given the same opportunity, the same thing happened in Kang,” he said.
The former Selebi-Phikwe East lawmaker said he remains confident that he will succeed at the upcoming elective national congress to be held in Tsabong this month.
“I am talking to Democrats and I should tell you that Democrats are playing along and doing as they are told. I am not deterred by the conduct of my party colleagues and I continue to receive encouragement from councillors and delegates,” he said.
Molefhi said, “The painful thing about this (conduct) is that we are breeding a new culture of dishonest politics in which people are now hiding from coming out in the open to state who they support.”
Molefhi indicated that there is no need for him to “raise the concerns within the party adding that some people have already told him that party elders should not be challenged.”
It is understood that some supporters of Tsogwane have taken a decision to rally behind him openly while those who support his rival fear to do the same for fear of being victimized.
Meanwhile, BDP Ngami constituency chairman Simon Meti could neither confirm nor deny that Molefhi was blocked from addressing delegates.
“I cannot comment on the issue because we had people who were presiding over the elections of delegates and I was only recently voted into the committee and this will be my first time to take part in the national elective congress,” said Meti.
