Reatile to appear before BDP disciplinary hearing
Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP)’ s suspended Member of Parliament for Jwaneng- Mabutsane Mephato Reatile is scheduled to appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee next week Thursday.
Reatile was slapped with a 60- day suspension letter on the 6th of August this year. He was suspended from the BDP by party leader Mokgweetsi Masisi for allegedly putting the name of the party into disrepute. Reatile’s suspension was as a result of his support for opposition MPs in Parliament against the suspension of Leader of Opposition Dumelang Saleshando.
Saleshando was named and suspended from Parliament service for five days for refusing to withdraw a statement he made in Parliament alleging that President Masisi’s family members were benefiting corruptly from COVID- 19 procurement. Reatile would later state during a national radio interview that he is against the Floor Crossing Bill.
In a letter addressed to Reatile dated December 2nd 2020, he is given a notice of the hearing of the matter. According to the letter the MP is reminded of the disciplinary hearing between him and the BDP Communications and Public Relations Sub Committee Chairman Kagelelo Kentse, which is slated for the 17th of December 2020 in the morning.
“You are kindly reminded to bring all witnesses you wish to call and all materials you wish to rely on in support of your case. You are further advised of your right to represent yourself or appoint any member of the party to assist you in these proceedings,” reads the letter.
Following his suspension Reatile came under attack from his constituency councillors who publicly during a press conference distanced themselves from him. The 12 BDP councillors launched an attack on him saying they are not happy with the way their MP has been deliberating issues in Parliament. They argued that Reatile does not articulate issues within the principles of the ruling party. While many thought Reatile would defect to opposition, the outspoken legislator maintained that he is not going anywhere and is a BDP member in good standing no matter how much his colleagues including the councillors try to ridicule him. This has also not made Reatile go soft on the ruling party in Parliament during debates as he continues to differ with the party on many issues. His argument is that he is serving the best interests of the people of Jwaneng- Mabutsane who sent him to Parliament.
In the suspension letter Masisi said “it is alleged that you have committed the following offences against the rules and regulations and the General Code of Conduct of the Botswana Democratic Party, to wit: behaving in a manner calculated to bring the party name into disrepute contrary to General Code of Conduct number 11; behaving in a grossly disorderly and unruly manner that might put the party name into disrepute contrary to General Code of Conduct number 5; and using Parliamentary of Council Positions and Privileges to attack the party and/ or its government contrary to code of conduct number 14.”
Reatile who defected to the BDP from Botswana National Front prior to 2014 general elections lost the 2014 elections. After the 2014 general election, Reatile was rewarded as Specially Elected Councillor and would later be elected Chairman of Southern District Council. He returned to Parliament in 2016 when former President and BDP leader Ian Khama chose him as one of the two additional Specially Elected MPs against a request by BDP MPs that the then Secretary General Botsalo Ntuane should be considered.
You are kindly reminded to bring all witnesses you wish to call and all materials you wish to rely on in support of your case. You are further advised of your right to represent yourself or appoint any member of the party to assist you in these proceedings