Butale likely to sue BPF
Butale barred from all party activities or engaging in any forum on behalf of the BPF Suspension to last until end of disciplinary process
Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) has suspended its founding president, Biggie Butale, pending a disciplinary hearing against him over a series of charges.
Butale was slapped with an immediate suspension last week Friday by the party’s Disciplinary Committee ( DC) following its meeting the same week.
The president who has been battling for his survival within the party is to be slapped with another charge in addition to the once he was facing since he appeared before the DC this year.
Butale has for long been at loggerheads with some of the party’s National Executive Committee ( NEC). When news of his alleged sexual misconduct leaked, the NEC persuaded the president to step down but he declined describing all allegations against him as a witch- hunt.
Butale, a former cabinet member and Member of Parliament for Tati West has maintained his innocence.
The disciplinary committee has indicated in a letter to Butale that it is in receipt of another complaint levelled against him from the BPF Secretary General, Tshekedi Khama on alleged sexual misconduct and bringing the party’s name into disrepute.
The DC Chairman Emmanuel Orateng said, “this complaint comes in at a time when the Disciplinary Committee already has other complaints against you, which the Committee still has to hear for possible disciplinary action should there be a need for any action to be taken resulting from the case”.
Butale who is the first party president in the country to be hauled before a disciplinary committee for alleged misconduct is currently facing charges of allegedly having on the 15th of May 2021 convened a meeting at a farm near Mahalapye aimed at paralysing, causing division and breaking up the BPF.
The farm is suspected to belong to One Molebatsi who is a BDP member.
Butale is also alleged to have gone as far as media houses and further besmirched the party’s name by saying he is being set up and that people want to remove him because he is not a Mongwato.
In the suspension letter dated 8th of September 2021 addressed to Butale, the DC Chairman stated that at their meeting held on the 8th of September 2021, in accordance with clause 40 of the BPF Constitution and in exercising its functions and powers, “the Disciplinary Committee resolved to suspend you from the Botswana Patriotic Front pending a disciplinary hearing on allegations levelled against you.
“The suspension is based on the fact that it is not in the best interest of the party that you continue to discharge your duties as the President of the party before your cases can be heard”.
Orateng pointed out that the suspension is with immediate effect.
“For the duration of this suspension and pending your disciplinary hearing you are not to organise and or engage in any BPF activities and or identify yourself as a representative of the BPF in any forum/ endeavour/ meeting whatsoever.
“You are not to use the BPF name, brand representation and slogans in your pursuits. You are not to engage the media and use the name of the BPF. You are requested to return all party material in your possession, including letterheads, and you are barred from using the same.
“The Disciplinary Committee shall furnish you with your charge sheet in due course, so that you may have the opportunity to respond to the allegations leveled against you,” explained Orateng.
Efforts to speak to Butale were futile as he had not responded to our enquiries at press time. However, sources close to him and the developments have revealed that the suspended president is planning to file an application with the High Court to challenge the decision of the party.
BPF Public Secretary Lawrence Ookeditse confirmed to this publication that they received the suspension letter from the DC.
He said as the NEC they are not making any decision with regards to the letter because the DC was only informing them of an interim measure pending a hearing.