Factions emerge within BNF CC
It is just differences like in any party and not fights - Hunyepa
The division within the Botswana National Front ( BNF) Central Committee continues to widen following its meeting last week, where it was to conclude discussions of agenda items that were discussed recently in Francistown.
There are dissenting claims as to what really transpired during the Francistown meeting as some within the central committee argue that the meeting was concluded only to be reconvened by Party President Advocate Duma Boko, while , on the other hand, official communication from the party is that the meeting held on the 16th of April 2023 in Francistown had to be adjourned as the planned business was not concluded. The rift among the leadership is a decision on whether to retain former BNF Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa as a party representative at the Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) National Executive Committee ( NEC) where he serves as Head of Communications. Mohwasa is said to have been retained strategically at UDC in an effort to help the growing of the coalition. He was however, allegedly removed by the central committee in Francistown through a push by a certain faction within the party which is anti- Mohwasa and want all assignments given to him to be handed over to the current Secretary General of the BNF, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa.
Motshegwa took over the secretarial of the BNF last year after winning during the party’s elective congress at Baisago University in Gaborone. The anti- Mohwasa faction feels that he should hand the reigns and allow Motshegwa to run the show as he ( Mohwasa) did while he was the Secretary General of the BNF.
“He is creating UDC structures across the country, which is the role and function under portfolios of Organising Secretaries of UDC contracting parties. Both BPP and BNF are not amused of this tendency and this was recently raised in a bilateral meeting of the two parties. The reason he is doing this is to primarily use UDC which is a supreme body to undermine in particular the BNF and its Secretary General Motshegwa, who defeated him dismally at the BNF elective congress despite being endorsed and supported by the party President,” said a central committee member.
The modus operandi is said to strategically position the pro - Mohwasa and the president as leaders of these UDC structures to undermine all BNF structures, which are led and controlled by those who supported Motshegwa.
“This in turn creates two centers of power within the BNF which is unhealthy for any organisation. In North Central an interim regional committee was formed without the knowledge of the BNF regional chairman, Kabo Ketshogile just because he didn’t support him at the congress. He has been urged to desists from such actions on numerous occasions by various BNF central committee members but he is resolute and defiant because he is encouraged and aided to do so by the UDC President,” alleged another member.
The infighting within the BNF leadership is said to be putting UDC stability at risk. According to an insider, what might have added salt to the wound was a recent decision taken not to include Motshegwa as one of the speakers at a UDC rally to launch the party candidate for the Bosele Ward by- election. Motshegwa was allegedly removed from the list of speakers together with BNF Women’s League President Dr. Bonang Nkoane.
BNF Information and Publictiy Secretary, Justin Hunyepa said whatever is being said is just propaganda peddled by enemies of progress. Hunyepa who is believed to be a pro- Mohwasa said differences exist in all political movements but that does not translate into fights or factions. He said he has been one of the people together with the party president who were supporting Motshegwa before and during the party’s elective congress and does not understand how they would now want to sabotage him.
“This is just propaganda which of course might be from within the party and also sponsored by third forces. It is misleading to say the meeting was recalled to reverse certain decisions. The meeting in Francistown was adjourned and business of that day was not concluded but was concluded last week. People are just unnecessarily targeting Mohwasa but they know he is one of the cadres that we need most to tap into their wisdom to grow both the BNF and UDC. We warn our members not to allow to be used to soil the name of the party,” said Hunyepa.