11th October 2020
Sello Motseta
There were very heated exchanges between Umbrella for Democratic Change(UDC) leaders at the first post election National Executive Committee(NEC) meeting in Francistown over leaked audio recordings in which the Botswana National Front(BNF) President Duma Boko chastised the handling of the Polson Majaga and Pono Motlhoadi issues in parliament, at a BNF internal campaign meeting in Palapye.
“We discussed issue at the NEC meeting. It finished in those discussions we held,” revealed Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, Vice President of the Botswana Congress Party(BCP)who refused to be drawn into commenting on what was discussed during the turbulent meeting.
Boko told BNF cadres that the case of Tonota MP, Pono Motlhoadi and Polson Majaga was in the courts and the matter was subjudice and it is important to collect evidence before jumping to conclusions.
Boko took strong exception to the request by Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and the Botswana Congress Party(BCP) President Dumelang Saleshando that Tonota MP, Pono Motlhoadi, should publicly apologize or step down after allegations he along with a neighbour, subjected Kesego Olekantse, now 12, to inhuman treatment on January 30, 2019 for stealing mangoes from Kebitsang’s homestead.
The trio of fiery UDC legislator and married couple, Maranyane Kebitsang, 68, and Nnyana Kebitsang, 61, allegedly subjected Kesego Olekantse, 12 to inhuman treatment and unleashed a vicious dog to bite Olekantse causing him puncture wounds and bruises on his face and body contrary to Children’s Act.
Boko argued that it was inappropriate to try to impress people without facts, as he rallied support for his bid to retain Presidency ahead of the BNF Congress scheduled for next year.
The Botswana Congress Party(BCP) Deputy Leader Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang also faced criticism for his decision to raise a petition in parliament on alleged rape charges against Polson Majaga saying because matter was still being tried in court petition was premature, inappropriate and overzealous.
Majaga was described as a veteran in his party and the opposition handling of his matter in parliament was described as amateurish. Boko said Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dumelang Saleshando must learn to be quiet and shut up when dealing with sensitive issues. He insisted parliamentarians are often quick to jump to conclusions without properly informing themselves of the facts.
But BNF party officials were quick to deny allegations saying they are not aware of leaked recordings.
“I am not aware of that,” said Moeti Mohwasa, Spokesperson of the Botswana National Front(BNF).
Botswana National Front(BNF) youth league members were accused of habitually insulting BCP leaders on social media at the instigation of party President Duma Boko.
This accusation was derisively dismissed as baseless with Boko pointing out that he was also subjected to insults by BCP Youth Leagues leaders on social media. UDC coalition representatives from the smaller Botswana Peoples Party(BPP) supported the embattled Boko with anti-pathy towards BCP high after feeling marginalized by them in the allocation of wards in area after 2019 elections.
The UDC NEC resolved to conduct an objective evaluation of the 2019 elections performance. It will also conduct an evaluation of the UDC project with discussion around whether they should add Botswana Patriotic Front(BPF) and the Alliance for Progressives(AP) to coalition UDC.
It will also discuss possibility of merging AP and BPF with other coalition parties and deliberate on need for elections for leadership roles with some cynics saying leadership roles need to be reassigned.
