BDP activist cleared of defilement charge

FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activist, Boikanyo Bateng has finally opened up just days after he was cleared of a defilement charge that has been hanging over his head for more than a year.

Bateng was discharged and acquitted by Principal Magistrate Game Mooketsi. Just after he was charged with defilement, Bateng was slapped with an indefinite suspension by the party. At the time he was the secretary for BDP Francistown East branch.

He also spent sometime in custody after his initial arrest. “The most painful thing is that I was denied an opportunity to defend my position as the branch secretary of Francistown East. I am, however, happy that I have finally been cleared of the charge.

The case gave me sleepless nights. I do not want to dwell much on the circumstances of the case, but it prevented me from planning ahead. I also missed important party activities,” he said in an interview. Bateng’s suspension caused tension in the BDP Francistown region.

In April this year the then secretary-general of the region, Sean Sebele declared the suspension null and void, a decision that infuriated other members of the regional committee especially its chairperson Baemedi Medupi.

Medupi maintained that Bateng had to clear his name first before he could be allowed back into the ruling party. In his letter reversing the suspension, Sebele noted that it was not executed procedurally. His argument was that no evidence was brought forward that Bateng had been served with a suspension letter by the region. Medupi maintained the contrary and reversed Sebele’s decision after consulting with the party executive.

His other position was that Sebele’s decision was taken unilaterally. During the interview, Bateng maintained that he has always been convinced that the court will clear him. “The painful thing is that my suspension from the party was not procedural. To this day, I have never received a letter of my suspension from the party.

However, I do not hold a grudge against anyone in the BDP.” He added, “I still want to serve the BDP to the best of my ability even as an ordinary member. My legal troubles dissuaded me from properly serving the party well. At a personal level I also want to grow as a politician. I have informed the party about my acquittal and I expect a response very soon.

I anticipate that I will be reinstated into the party with ease.” The Francistown region vice chairperson, Khumongwana Maoto declined to comment on the party’s position in relation to Bateng’s application for his suspension to be lifted. “I cannot discuss internal party members with third parties. That will be against rules and regulations of the party,” Maoto told