BDP yet to take action against councillor
FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) says it cannot take action against its councillor in Kweneng who allegedly defiled a minor until it formally receives concrete information about the matter from its structures in the area. Recently, Mmegi’s sister publication,
The Monitor, published an article in which the BDP councillor for Medie/Kweneng ward, Edward Swanekani, allegedly landed in hot soup after he defiled a 17-yearold girl.
The Monitor also said Swanekani (37) had already appeared before the Molepolole Magistrates Court in relation to the charge. In an interview with Mmegi recently, the secretary-general of the BDP, Mpho Balopi said if it is indeed true that Swanekani has been charged with defilement, the party cannot act on the issue until it receives formal communication from its lower structures in Kweneng, detailing the allegation.
Balopi also added that the BDP does not rely on media allegations to take action against members holding positions within its various structures unless there is formal correspondence to such allegations from its structures. “I have not received any formal correspondence from our structures in Kweneng about the matter you are asking me about hence
I am constrained to talk about it. If such allegation really exists, our structures in Kweneng will formally notify us at Tsholetsa House or the Central Committee and we will thereafter see what action we may take against the concerned councillor,” said Balopi.
The BDP secretary-general clarified that should the BDP receive a formal report about the allegation relating to Swanekani, it will follow due process just like it did in the matter of the legislator for Nata/Gweta constituency, Polson Majaga, who was once charged with defilement but was later cleared by the court of no wrong doing.
The party has since adopted a similar stance against one of its activists in Francistown (who holds a position in the Francistown region). The activist, who cannot be named for ethical and legal reasons, recently landed in hot soup after he allegedly defiled his stepdaughter. Early last year, the BDP slapped Majaga with a 60-day suspension after he was arraigned before the Nata Magistrate Court on a charge of defilement. The suspension was later made indefinite. The party stated that Majaga was suspended to enable him to clear his name in the wake of the charges levelled against him. The BDP said it took action against Majaga in order to allow him to clear his name before the courts since not doing so had the potential of bring the name of the party into disrepute.