BDP to suspend outspoken councillors
Councillors have been outspoken on internal party tensions and 6% salary increase MPs who voted against party caucus spared
The Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) Central Committee meeting held on Monday this week is said to have taken a resolution to suspend some of the party councillors.
The suspension of the councillors is said to be as a result of bringing the name of the party into disrepute and sowing division among party members.
The central committee chaired by party president Mokgweetsi Masisi on Monday is said to have directed for the drafting of the letters for the councillors who would be served before end of this week. President Masisi recently made it known before attending the United Nations General Assembly in USA that upon return he will crack the whip on those that are deemed to be disturbing peace in the party and sowing divisions. Botswana Guardian is informed that there are about four councillors who have made it to the first list of those who will face the music. Unconfirmed information is that two of the councillors are from Tlokweng Constituency while the other two are from Molepolole North. According to sources, the targeted councillors were outspoken on matters affecting the party and their relationship with the party leadership.
The councillors had expressed concern over the tension between the party leadership, cabinet and back bench, and slow delivery of the Party’s 2019 general election campaign promises.
More councillors who are believed to have also
participated in fuelling divisions within the party are expected to also face the music. The councillors are said to have been especially outspoken about the controversial issue of six percent salary increase for councillors for 2019/ 20 which was never implemented. The councillors had contended that they should get their dues as much as Members of Parliament did. Government led by both Masisi and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Eric Molale have told the councillors that there are no funds to cater for their increase. The president and the minister have on different occasions told the councillors to show leadership and let go of the matter as most of the funds have gone towards the fight against COVID- 19. The targeted councillors have also been vocal in one of their WhatsApp groups demanding that MPs should support them in their bid to demand payment of the outstanding monies.
It is in this platform that the councillors allegedly threatened to decampaign MPs who were not supporting their demands for salary increase.
The councillors wanted to target the central committee elections and the party’s primary elections to decampaign those who have not been in their corner when fighting for the increase.
While there are some MPs who are believed to have recently acted against the party caucus and embarrassed the party and voted with opposition in Parliament, sources say chances are slim that the party will take action against them.
The backbench members voted with opposition against the passing of the Economic Inclusion Bill. Former BDP MP Mephato- Reatile of JwanengMabutsane was once suspended with one of the charges being voting against a caucus resolution. He has since joined the BDP breakaway party, Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF).
BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi could not confirm or deny this development. The secretary general said he could not discuss resolutions of the meeting. “I am not at liberty to discuss resolutions and matters discussed during the central committee sitting,” he said briefly.