Widening splits within the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) are continuing to take various shapes as the party prepares for the primary election re-run in Bobonong constituency.
Francisco Kgoboko who shocked the incumbent Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi by humbling him with 4865 votes against 2593 has written to Party President Mokgweetsi Masisi asking him to intervene. Kgoboko said he cannot accept the re-run as Kgathi did not lodge his complaint within stipulated time. “In the interest of consistency and fairness of the application of our party’s regulations we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that the same Appeals Board on the same day it delivered the verdict in Minister Kgathi’s appeal, dismissed Honorable Mzwinila’s appeal because of non-compliance with the same regulations,” said Kgoboko, in his letter to Masisi.
Kgoboko appealed to Masisi alleging that he has suffered injustice at the hands of the party. “Your Excellency, I have suffered great injustice. It is far-fetched to imagine that the irregularities Minister Kgathi complained of, even if they were all accepted as being established, would conceivably have altered the clear outcome of the Bobonong primary elections…ka boikokobetso I would like you to intervene,” he cried out.
Thirteen council candidates in the constituency have also joined the fray and called on the party to call off the re-run as Kgathi has failed to prove that he was cheated. They even gave the BDP leadership an ultimatum to have responded to their letter by Thursday, failing which they threaten to approach court to seek legal recourse. “We await your response not later than close of business on the 6th of December 2018 failing which we will exercise any of our rights available in the law,” they warned.
BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi confirmed that they have received a communication to that effect but was quick to add that the party leadership will meet next week to discuss the contents of the letter. “Yes 13 council candidates have written to the party seeking the cancellation of the primary election re rerun but cannot discuss the detailed contents of the letter,” he said.
In the letter dated 2nd of December 2018, the 13 council candidates have also written to the party seeking for the call off of the re-run saying Minister Kgathi has failed to produce the 2000 names which he said were fraudulently registered.