Molefhi and Kgathi in backyard backlash
The race for the Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) Central Committee elections billed for Tsabong on the 26th - 28th August 2022 took a heated turn this week as branches concluded the delegate selection process. Things have taken an interesting turn as Nonofo Molefhi and Shaw Kgathi who are running for key positions of chairperson and secretary general fell out of favour in their own backyards. Molefhi will be going head to head with Vice President and current chairman Slumber Tsogwane, while Kgathi the current BDP Deputy Secretary General will tussle with Kavis Kario to head the secretariat. It has since emerged that in addition to most of the 57 Branches selecting pro Tsogwane delegates, featuring among those are the Bobonong, Mmadinare, Selibe- Phikwe ( BOMASE) Region, which have pulled a rug under Molefhi and Kgathi’s feet. The branches have selected the eligible eight voting delegates who are pro Tsogwane ensuring that Team Tsogwane makes a clean sweep. Each of the 57 Branches select eight delegates who are complemented by the branch chairperson and branch secretary to make a total of 10 delegates to the congress. Delegate selection in the Branches of BOMASE region was heavily contested as both contestants for the position of Secretary General and one for Chairman have their political bases etched in the region. Interestingly, Molefhi has also found it difficult to penetrate both Phikwe East branch where he is a former Member of Parliament and neighbouring Selibe- Phikwe West.
As things stand, he is not a delegate and can only attend the Tsabong congress as a political tourist. This however does not preclude him from contesting as names are called from the floor.
Unlike in other political parties where those who want to contest have to be nominated by a certain number of Branches, in the BDP the name is called from the floor and if the candidate is not a delegate he/ she can write a letter of acceptance for nomination to contest. According to information reaching this publication, members of the BDP in Phikwe cited Molefhi’s lack of participation since losing primary elections and his foot- dragging in Party activities as the main reasons for spurning him. This is said to have been one of the campaign tools by anti- Molefhi members to ensure that he does not even get support or form part of the delegation from both SelibePhikwe Constituencies or any from the region. Members of the BDP in the Phikwe area appear not to be convinced that Molefhi should be elected to the Party’s high office because of his lack of knowledge and experience of the Party functions. “That is permissible in terms of our constitution. With regards to complaints raised we believe those charged with such responsibilities will deal with them accordingly and in time ahead of the congress. We are confident we will have a successful, peaceful, free and fair National Elective Congress,” Kentse said. Kgathi who was defeated by Political Education Committee ( PEEC) member Francisco Kgoboko in the Bobonong 2018 primary elections has also lost favour with BDP members and could not secure a single delegate in his home constituency. Kgathi, who was in the 2017 Central Committee lobby list chaired by then VP, President Mokgweetsi Masisi and current Chairman Tsogwane as a member did not make the list this time around due to what observers believe might be his dismal performance as deputy Secretary General and the aftermath of the party’s primary elections whence Bobonong ended up registering the highest number of independent candidates many of whom were council candidates from the Kgathi- led campaign.
Kgathi has however launched an appeal on the outcome of the selection of delegates. The BDP stalwart rejected the results during the Bobonong branch congress where delegates were selected. Kgathi launched a complaint with the party arguing that there have been irregularities. The contention is that the presiding officer at the congress Baemedi Medupi is a well- known proTsogwane lobby group member and is the same person who chased Kgathi out of a meeting called by Tsogwane recently in Francistown. Kgathi is the Member of the Central Committee responsible for Francistown Region. Kgathi is blamed by his detractors for failing to come to the party when Secretary General Mpho Balopi showed no interest in heading the secretariat when he fell out with President Masisi.
Since the fallout with Masisi, Balopi has not been active in party activities. Tsogwane is said to have taken advantage of this and rallied his troops to revive the party structures in preparation to defend his seat and bring on board a team he can work with. Kgathi’s failure to impress his Chairman at the Central Committee and his home constituency has been cited as indication of an underwhelming performance. With all things not looking good for the men aspiring for key positions of the party leadership it is alleged that the lobby group is devising a strategy to have a second plan in place. BDP Communications and International Relations Committee Chairman Kagelelo Kentse stated that the party process does not require those who have interest to stand for party positions to officially submit their names or expressions of interest. He said the only time they will know who is contesting is at congress when nominations happen.
“Yes, individuals have started campaigning but I cannot confirm else I will be basing it on social media. However, at National Council current party Chairman did inform council that he will be defending his position and has agreed to work along with Kario as party Secretary General and Dr Lemogang Kwape as deputy Secretary General. “There is also a lobby which has been circulating where former MP and Minister Molefhi has expressed interest but that does not mean a name cannot crop up at the floor of the congress.”