BIGGIE BUTALE SAGA: WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY ABOUT IT
This week the leadership of Botswana Patriotic Front, told the nation of their desire to see their President Biggie Butale step aside from his position for 30 days after allegations of sexual misconduct were reported to the party by one Wangu, a university student and BPF youth activist. These are some of the reactions to the whole saga:
WHY DID WANGU RECORD
How is this sexual misconduct ne bathong…as if Butale had forced himself on Wangu? Can’t we accept that this might just have been a sexual transaction gone wrong? Although from the leaked audio clips it also sounds like there was no penetration – we have had worse situations than this and were not treated as sexual misconduct that meant people should resign. Was that minister wa three-some asked to resign? The minister and councilor who were accused of sleeping with teenage girls? And why did this Wangu girl record and publicise what she recorded? [Kamogelo Pule]
BPF ARE PLAYING POLICE
Lawrence Ookeditse and his BPF are lying through their yellow teeth. If this is not about BPF factional fightings to oust Biggie Butale, why can’t they report the case to Botswana Police to do proper investigations instead of playing Police when they are not and not even mandated to be?
BPF tribalism and cult group is equally guilty of politicising an alleged sexual criminal offence. Banna tlheng BPF ke malele a bofelo. [Tikane Gaopatwe]
GOD BE WITH YOU BIGGIE
Wangu reported the matter to Lawrence. Lawrence reported the matter to SKIK. Potso fela e simple ke gore why SKIK ka go na le Vice President le NEC? God be with you Biggie. [Maatla Kopano]
IF IT WAS RAPE, REPORT IT
I would refuse to step down if I was Butale and wait until an official police report has been made.
Not a complaint letter. Rape is Rape. You don’t complain about it. You report it. Or I can take a decision to completely resign from that position. Gape that’s not GBV it’s a First Degree Criminal Act. [Kea Gee]
IT’S A MATTER OF TWO ADULTS
Dear Biggie Butale. Please just resign from that terrorist group. Whether you had it with that girl or not, it’s a matter of two adults with their affair and is not a criminal case. And all those who are excited persecuting you are lying to the public that they are morally clean, some of them have worse issues. The fact that you were recorded and reported to the BPF should make every person with a brain in his head to understand that it’s a set-up from BPF. So I beg you to save your life and your family and leave that trabalist group. We are Batswana and won’t allow such a disgusting thing to go unchallenged. [Mbaakanyi Lenyatso]
BIGGIE WAS SET UP
Biggie only owes himself and his family a serious apology. He needs to organize a serious retreat for himself alone to accept and make peace. Any other person trying to make an issue out of the audio tapes... it will be unfortunate. There is nothing wrong with two adults having sex. If anyone has a right to pick an issue it’s Biggie’s wife. In fact she must sue the young lady who recorded. Yes he embarrassed himself, the church and the party he leads, but he did nothing illegal. He was set up. [Louis Sibanda]
WHO ARE WE TO DECIDE FOR HER?
“She should have reported to the police immediately, why did she record the phone call? It appears as though they were in a relationship.” Are we really telling a rape survivor how she should react to her hurt and trauma? Assuming they were in a relationship, still the argument that a person was in a relationship with you therefore can’t rape you is foolish because a relationship isn’t some sort of lifetime consent to sex. “We want to see her photos, she is a slut, she sleeps with everyone.” Who says women or men who have multiple partners can’t be raped? (Resego Kgosidintsi)
REALLY, WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Kante golo fa sentlesentle, kgang ke eng? Was there a form of sexual assault? Was there rape? Was Wangu forced into any act of sex? If so, why is the matter not with the police? Why is this even a matter to the political party and not to the man’s wife? Biggie here only owes his wife an explanation, and only his wife can put him to civil trial. BPF e tsena ha kae when a consenting female decided to engage in a sexual session with her leader? Why should he even be asked to resign or to recuse himself when he is not under police investigation? And why was the matter reported to a BPF official who is alleged to have reported the matter to the party Patron when there is a committee that runs the party? An even more, what was the Patron doing in the alleged NEC meeting as reported that he was part of it? What is this all about?