BNFYL holds hostile congress
Rented delegates infiltrate congress Supervision of elections by independent body demanded Team Unity threatens withdrawal from race at eleventh hour
Botswana National Front Youth League ( BNFYL) is this weekend meeting in Molepolole to vote into office the new committee under a hostile environment, Botswana Guardian has learnt.
Preparations for the youth league congress have been marred by controversy since last year with accusations levelled against the party leadership for failing to restore order and ensure transparency in the build- up to the congress. Both the party leadership and the BNFYL Transition Team ( Interim Committee) have assured that everything is in order and they expect a well- organised and successful congress.
There are two lobby groups, one led by former Women’s League Secretary Resego Kgosidintsi under Team Revival and the other led by Joseph Carter of Team Unity.
Information gathered by this publication indicates that the BNFYL regulations have all along been flouted in the election of office bearers from Ward and to Branch level, and recently in the selection of delegates to the congress. According to sources, concerns have been lodged with the party leadership and the Transition Team but no action has been taken to rectify the situation.
It has further been revealed that Team Unity, which is said to be the one that mostly raised red flags, contemplates pulling out of the race at the eleventh hour if their concerns are not adequately addressed.
Botswana Guardian has learnt that while the party has dismissed recent claims that there has been unlawful printing of membership cards at the party office, there is also a contest for the removal of about 101 names from the register of people who are to vote at the congress.
There are fears among the BNF young cadres that a clash could erupt at the congress and possibly violence. The withdrawal of Team Unity from the race at the last minute might send a wrong message about statements by the party leadership on the running of the party affairs and internal democracy and the legitimacy of the other lobby group. Sources have revealed that the recent events where some members of the party stormed the BNF office and clashed with some of the party employees over allegations of printing of membership cards while the process has been halted, was just a tip of the iceberg as more revelations will emerge this weekend ( Saturday and Sunday). The BNFYL last held its elective congress in Mahalapye in 2016.
The youth committee has since assuming office done little for the youth structures and young people in the country due to infightings which resulted in the committee being dissolved. Expectation has been that the incoming committee will restore the hope of the young cadres after years of the non- functioning structure. This however might be thwarted should the leadership not come to the party before the elective congress at Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School. Documents seen by this publication indicate that there have been calls for intervention by the party leadership from some of the constituencies.
They demand for voters’ roll, for report on allegations of cards printing and for an independent body to conduct the elections. According to a letter written to the party Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa, there is a demand for a report and clarity on who conducted the investigations for the alleged membership cards printing. It is alleged in the letter that the two colleagues who were found in the party office around 0200hrs were among those who submitted delegation forms on the 22nd of April 2022.
Last week, according to another letter seen by this publication, Lentsweletau- Mmopane Constituency called for intervention for the supervision of delegates’ selection by the Transition Committee.
“We have noted at LentsweletauMmopane that delegates are voted secretly and most are not even known members of concerned wards. In my own ward there has never been an invitation to members and none have attended the same including myself.
“Upon investigations we realised that all the nine wards never held the meetings also, but we are surprised to learn that delegates are selected and already registered,” the letter from one Botlhe Makokwe read.
The letter dated May 18th of 2022 has also brought to the attention of the Transition Committee that the constituency committee, especially the chairperson and secretary are conflicted hence not being called to intervene in the matter. Team Unity has also written to the Transition Team indicating that an independent body should be appointed to conduct the elections from inception which includes, among others, supervision of selection of delegates. According to the letter, it is clear that across the country some structures were illegally elected, others are dysfunctional, and others conflicted to conduct fair selection of delegates, hence some select delegates outside the laid down rules and regulations to deliberately try and rig elections. “Finally we wish to state for the record that we shall and we will never participate in a fraudulent election nor congress as it happened at the Women’s Congress at Thamaga.
“The BNF leadership should act swiftly to normalize the state of the party and see to it that sanity prevails and principles of democracy are upheld and promoted.
“We are not asking for a favour but we demand fair and free election, rule of law should be respected. Lastly we wish to advice ( sic) our colleagues from Team Revival that they should refrain from coming up with all tricks to rig elections, rather they should campaign to BNF members not rented delegates including BDP youth so as to win the positions,” the letter reads.