BPF denies looming ‘en mass’ resignations
FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) is reportedly on the verge of losing activists following a sexual misconduct allegation bedeviling its leader Biggie Butale, sources privy to activities within the party revealed.
According to sources close to the goings-on at the party, all has not been rosy at the BPF since Butale’s infamous alleged sexual affair with a young party operative.
BPF – the country’s newest political party – was formed in the aftermath of a bitter fallout between former president Ian Khama and his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Sources within the BPF have told Mmegi that some prominent activists are not happy with the way Butale was treated by the party following the “sexual misconduct” incident.
The sources explained that the allegation against Butale ruffled feathers within the BPF since there is a view that he may be a target of some influential people at the top of the BPF power structure, who want to see him ousted as the party’s president. The BPF has since stated that Butale is not targeted by anyone within the party but was just asked to step down from his position on ethical and moral grounds, but Butale rebuffed the advice.
Mmegi sources added that following the recent meeting of some BPF activists who are allegedly sympathetic to Butale at a farm near Machaneng village, some BPF activists who were present at the meeting have decided to leave the party in solidarity with Butale.
The vice chairperson of the BPF in the Central region, Tumo Tumo recently told Mmegi sister publication, The Monitor that indeed the farm meeting took place in his (Tumo) and Butale’s presence.
Tumo, however, told The Monitor that Butale never told BPF activists at the gathering to quit the party for the BDP.
Asked if he attended the farm meeting, Butale – who was also said to be contemplating rejoining the BDP –told
The Monitor then that he was not ready to engage the media on anything related to politics.
While Butale said he did not want to engage the media, Tumo told The Monitor, “From the onset, I want to state that Butale never said that people should quit the BPF for the BDP. He only said that he intends to quit the party.”
Tumo clarified that Butale did not disclose his next political home. Tumo added he was personally invited by Butale to the meeting but was not aware of the meeting’s agenda until he arrived at the venue.
Another prominent party operative is BPF secretary for international affairs James Kgalajwe, who is allegedly one of the BPF’s top activists that attended the farm rendezvous. The high profile figure also allegedly wants to resign because of how the party ‘inappropriately handled’ the Butale firestorm.
According to Mmegi sources, Kgalajwe attended the meeting and is also reportedly on the verge of retracing his steps to the BDP. Kgalajwe has, however, denied that he attended the farm meeting when quizzed by Mmegi this week. He also denied that he is on the verge of writing a resignation letter to the BPF in the not so distant future.
Kgalajwe said: “The propaganda that I am about to leave the BPF to rejoin the BDP is peddled by some people from a certain faction of the BPF. I will never leave the BPF. I will rather quit politics and then become an inactive member of the BPF than join the BDP. If I were to quit the BPF, I will rather join the opposition although it is also battling demons of its own than rejoining the BDP.”
Kgalajwe added: “Issues of mismanagement of the country’s resources and corruption have spiraled out of control under the current BDP administration. The country’s foreign reserves have also been depleted under the current regime. So why would I join a party that is mismanaging the country? Botswana’s democratic credentials used to be the envy of many African countries but now Botswana is a laughing stock just like other failed African states.”
Mmegi further quizzed Kgalajwe that some people are saying it is only a matter of time before he calls it quits at the BPF to make his way back to the BDP.
Kgalajwe responded: “You will never see me at the BDP again. I understand myself. I am currently thinking of quitting politics to focus more on my businesses. I want to be one of the people in the opposition trenches who are going to witness regime change. I want to topple the BDP from power. I want it to fall.”
During his time in the BDP, Kgalajwe was one of the longest serving councillors in Francistown and he was at some point, the city’s mayor.
Reached for comment about the ‘resignations en masse’ from the BPF, the party’s spokesperson Lawrence Ookeditse stated that the BPF is not engulfed by any political turbulence following Butale’s ‘sexual misconduct’ allegation.
Ookeditse said: “Butale is very predictable. He has been trying to drive this narrative for a whole week. There is no faction that’s unhappy with the party decision. The party is solid and in good health. Actually, the broad majority of BPF members we speak to are proud that their party acted responsibly on a matter that is quite important.” “Butale met a few friends of his at some farm over the weekend. Even amongst those 11 people at the meeting, more than half are not going anywhere. They immediately reported back to the party that he was instigating them to leave. But they’re not going anywhere. It is only Butale and two of his friends that are threatening to leave the party (sic),” said Ookeditse.