FRANCISTOWN: The leadership of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) went to South Africa (SA) yesterday in a bid to explore reconciliation talks, Mmegi has learnt. A wellplaced source within the party said the BPF delegation composed of some members of the national executive committee (NEC) and members of Parliament (MPs) left for SA yesterday to meet former president Ian Khama who is also the party patron.

The BPF has recently been engulfed by turmoil before and after the suspensions of its deputy secretary-general, Vuyo Notha, party member Dineo Tumotumo, secretary-general (SG) and former MP for Serowe West Tshekedi Khama and political education officer Prince Bosilong. The BPF fissures widened following a bitter legal battle that saw the High Court reaffirm Biggie Butale as the party president.

Butale was reaffirmed as the lawful party president by Justice Matlhogonolo Phuthego towards the end of April.

The urgent court application was instituted on a certificate of urgency by Butale (BPF President), Reitumetse Aphiri (BPF acting secretary-general ) and Ford Moiteela ).

The respondents in the matter were Tshekedi Khama, Notha, Robert Mariba, Bosilong, Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Motswasele Kganetso, Dr Kolaatamo Malefho, James Kgalajwe and Moiseraela Goya in that order.

The court learnt that the first to fourth respondents were suspended SG, deputy SG, deputy treasurer and secretary for political education respectively.

The fifth respondent was the patron of BPF while the sixth to ninth respondents were the treasurer, secretary of health, secretary for international relations and secretary for labour Affairs respectively.

Political analysts and followers believe that the court case is the straw that broke the camel’s back in the once cordial relationship between Khama (Ian) and Butale.

Tshekedi was recently dealt a double blow after he was disqualified as the MP for Serowe West for missing legally consecutive Parliament sessions.

His disqualification triggered a by-election that will be held on July 8.

Last week, Tshekedi and Bosilong received a reprieve after the NEC of the BPF lifted their suspensions. The beleaguered Notha, who is also a councillor in Serowe, remains on suspension. The BPF accuses him of bringing its name into disrepute.

Notha is alleged to be one of the ringleaders of a BPF faction called the BPF Concerned Group that was strongly calling for the party to hold an elective congress. Notha is believed to have been doing the bidding of former president Ian, who has publicly stated that he wants the BPF to hold an elective congress at which he will contest for the position of president.

Although he is currently on suspension, the vocal Notha yesterday (Thursday) also told Mmegi that a delegation of the BPF composed of members of the NEC and MPs left for SA to meet the former president. Notha said the delegation went to SA to try to broker reconciliation. An unshakably and resolute Notha, however, said from their side, reconciliation should be premised on the unconditional lifting of the suspensions of all the BPF members who were ‘unduly’ suspended by the party.

Notha added: “Our demands for an elective congress still stand. We also demand the unconditional lifting of the suspensions of party activists who were not properly suspended by the party.”

Earlier, Notha had told Mmegi that the BPF’s dissident group’s trip to Selebi-Phikwe that was pencilled for this week has been put on hold.

He said the trip that was among others geared towards charting the way forward following the suspensions of some BPF activists and the formation of a splinter party was put off pending the outcome of reconciliation talks in SA.

When asked about the trip to SA by the BPF leadership, the party’s spokesperson Lawrence Ookeditse briefly said: “Reconciliation efforts in the party are ongoing.” Ookeditse also assured the BPF fan base that despite the turbulence that the party is currently experiencing, it is still strong and stable.

“The BPF won’t give birth to a splinter party. We know what our former members who are on suspension are doing. We know and are very confident that our efforts to bring peace in the BPF will bear fruits,” a confident Ookeditse underscored.