Internal wrangles rock Red Cross
The fight for control of the Botswana Red Cross Society has taken a new twist as its smaller structures get involved in a titanic battle. Recently, the members have been running helter-skelter at courts to resolve the issue concerning electing a president and two vice presidents. In January 2021, Maipelo Mophuting and Nelson Rammala were granted an order to interdict the society’s election for the three positions on the Annual General Assembly (AGA) agenda until the matter was finalised. The society through secretary general, Kutlwano Mukokomani had disqualified the duo, questioning their membership standing. Members are divided between the two factions, one of Mophuting and another for current president, Motlamorago Gaseitsiwe.
The latter’s faction is the one that is said to have called the illegal meeting to take out branch members who are said to be in support of Mophuting. Former chairperson of Selebi-Phikwe branch committee, Ester Selema said they are engaging an attorney on their matter since the alleged new Selebi-Phikwe committee is illegitimate. Speaking to Mmegi recently, Selema said their committee is not yet dissolved and the meeting in which the committee is said to have been chosen last week, was done so illegally. “Our committee was not informed and the members who are said to be in that meeting are not Botswana Red Cross members. Again, one cannot dissolve a committee without notifying it and the secretariat decided to accept the committee without even checking if the Constitution was followed. It is clear that the secretariat has taken sides on these issues and elections,” she said. Selema added that they were shocked that the said new committee even decided to change locks at the offices and later reported to the police that there was a robbery. For his part, Mukokomani said what he knows is that the Selebi-Phikwe membership had passed a motion of no confidence against the outgoing branch chairperson and committee members. “It is true the members of Selebi-Phikwe held a meeting and voted the new committee. According to the report I got, there is also a case that was opened at the police station of our office breaking. If some of our members are unhappy with the election of the new committee then they should write to the secretariat. Our office has not received any complaints. We have only received a letter of new nominations,” Mukokomani said. He added that members should learn to follow proper procedures if they are unhappy with some issues.
Mukokomani said it will be unfortunate if some were to take the matter to court without first taking it to them.