The Botswana Congress Party has noted with great concern allegations of Gender Based Violence (GBV) levelled against Cde Gaolathe Kenosi. It is important to point out categorically that the BCP as a social democratic formation, holds in very high regard the rights of women and children. We have pronounced 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and remain committed to advocating for policies that protect and uplift all marginal groups in our nation.
The allegations against comrade Gaolathe Kenosi, have been made by Daniel Kenosi, a family member and are of a serious nature.
Another family member has come out to strongly dismiss the allegations as unfounded and malicious. Under the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for the BCP or any other organization to entangle itself in what may be a possible family dispute.
In the 2019 general elections, comrade Gaolathe Kenosi was a candidate of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). No allegations of GBV were made against him and they only emerge when he chooses to contest under the BCP symbol.
It would be unfortunate, and sad if it were to be established that the GBV claim is in any way propelled by a political motive.
Though the BCP does not have the capacity to mount an investigation that could establish the facts, we have reached out to some members of the family as the allegations could not be ignored. Besides the family member who has made the complaint, no other family member has corroborated the allegations. The allegations should therefore not be used to mount a political agenda against the BCP and its candidate.
To our knowledge, there has been no investigation into Rre Gaolathe Kenosi, nor a charge to justify the call for any form of censure at this point. Accordingly, acting on unsubstantiated allegations or taking sides when contradicting versions are brought forth will be perpetuation of injustice and tantamount to promoting a culture of witch-hunt in which political opponents stoop low and deploy unacceptable tactics. As a Party, we cannot act contrary to the principles of natural justice by being the judge and jury in the social media and public courts.
𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥.
We call on the nation to be on high alert against acts of GBV. This is a scourge that must be defeated by all means possible. We remain committed to building a nation free from all forms of violence in which Mothers and Children will enjoy the full support and protection of their Fathers.
Yours Comradely,
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐩𝐡𝐨 𝐌. 𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐤𝐨
𝐁𝐂𝐏 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲