Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) factional wars in the build-up to 2015 Elective General Congress have resurfaced ahead of this year’s elective congress in December.

The 2015 congress that ushered in the current leadership being National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Office Bearers (NOB) was marred by controversy. The controversy is once again playing out in the open as divisions within the leadership became apparent at the past weekend meeting which resulted in suspensions of some members including President Masego Mogwera and counter suspensions of other members by Mogwera.

Sources say the bitter war emanates from jostling as factions position themselves for the congress where they will go head to head in a battle for control of the union.
In a heated meeting which resulted in some members of the NEC walking out, the committee resolved to suspend five of its office bearers being Mogwera, first deputy president Martin Gabobake, General Secretary Topias Marenga, Deputy Secretary Kethapeleng Karabo and Treasurer General Aba Gabaikhe for failure to observe Articles 53.1 and 53.2 respectively.

The articles speak of secondment and remuneration of office bearers (president and treasurer general) as well as sanctioning the implementation of the new BOPEU structure. The NEC has since resolved to appoint Philemon Zibani as the interim president, Ogaufi Masame as First Deputy President and Mosalagae Tlhako as Treasurer General pending investigations. Mogwera’s team has also in turn declared a state of emergency and suspended Zibani and crew.

Zibani has however indicated that they could not be suspended by people who are on suspension. A stalemate has been reached by the two groups over who is at the helm of the union- a stalemate which even the police failed to break. This resulted in Zibani’s team on Tuesday night serving their colleagues with court papers in which they want a court order removing them from office.

According to sources, the power struggle started when a consultant was engaged to review BOPEU’s organisational structure. Mogwera and team are accused of implementing the secondment of the president and treasurer general without approval of NEC and implementing a new pay structure which is now a centre of controversy following a decision taken to reverse the pay structure.

The reversal comes after eight months of implementation. Botswana Guardian has it on good authority that last week some employees received letters stating that their salaries would be reversed to the ones used before the implementation of the new structure in November last year. The employees are now contemplating taking BOPEU to court over the matter.

Mogwera has maintained that they are aware of attempts to remove them from office and replace them with yes men and women to frustrate efforts by her committee to recover BOPEU assets. She said there are outside forces that want to interfere in their fight against financial impropriety and corruption at the union of choice as BOPEU is affectionately known.

It remains to be seen how things will play out in the build-up to the Palapye congress. Zibani’s team is said to be prepared and hell-bent on removing Mogwera’s team from office come December. The team alleges there has been embezzlement of the union funds and stalling of the release of the forensic audit which was sanctioned about eight months ago. They have also taken war to the current treasurer general for allegedly failing to produce audited financial report.

Mogwera became BOPEU President after the then President Andrew Motsamai resigned to join Babereki Investment, the BOPEU business arm as Executive Chairman. He was later relieved of his duties on allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Motsamai beat his former Vice President Sikalesele Seitiso in a tightly contested election, garnering 220 votes against 146 during the 2015 Palapye congress. Mogwera was voted First Vice President getting 220 votes against Tlotlang Bakoko who got 145 votes.

As Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) conducts its last batch of Bulela-Ditswe next week it has emerged that women running for parliament might not survive the political storm, Botswana Guardian can reveal.

Unlike other political parties, BDP has no waiver for women and vulnerable people when it comes to contesting for political office. Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leads the pack in its affirmative action on empowering women for political office followed by the Botswana National Front (BNF).

Botswana has signed the SADC Protocol on gender equality, but the BDP government has made little effort to advance women to positions of political leadership. Under the leadership of BDP, Botswana has also not even met the minimum quota set out in the Protocol.
A careful scrutiny of parliamentary candidates by this publication has shown that Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs Dorcas Makgato tops the charts of those who will make it back to parliament.

She will be up against Specially Elected Councillor Kitso Seloma for Sefhare-Ramokgonami constituency where she will be defending the seat.
Another possible survivor could be Kgalagadi North runner Talita Monnakgotla who is taking head-on area MP Itumeleng Edson Moipisi. Moipisi is also Assistant Minister of Land Management Water and Sanitation Services.

Monnakgotla, an entrepreneur, has made strides in the constituency winning the hearts of many while Moipisi was busy with government business as assistant minister.
Through her business she runs with her husband AT&T Monnakgotla she has been sponsoring school prize giving ceremonies at a tune of P4000. AT&T Monnakgotla also strives to create opportunities to help lift Kgalagadi youngsters out of poverty.

The company is also sponsoring an annual July football tournament for Kgalagadi and Gantsi known as KGAGA President’s Day Tournament which seeks to improve talent of the children in those areas so that they could compete with their peers across the country.

Monnakgotla is expected to bring hope to BDP women as the strong women of the BDP Botlogile Tshireletso and Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi are not contesting and have decided to hang their political boots. This development is likely to adversely impact the party that has been in power for over 50 years and preaches women empowerment while it has dismally failed within its internal development to at least have 30 percent of women making it to parliament.

As for Makgato, she has proven to be a force to reckon with ever since she made her mark in politics after leaving the corporate world. When she first contested during the 2013 Bulela-Ditswe she caused uproar when she sent a pool of men scurrying including the then area MP and Agriculture Minister, Oreeditse Molebatsi.

At that time Makgato was Specially Elected MP and Trade and Industry Minister.
Makgato cemented her power base within the BDP in 2015 when she was elected BDP Women’s Wing Chairperson in Lobatse. It was at the same elective congress where BDP women called for their increased participation in positions of leadership, decision-making and political offices so they could compete well with their male counterparts from primary to national elections.

She is the first women’s wing leader to have the BDP hold a general assembly of women from the 2nd to 4th of December 2016. The aim of the assembly was to create a forum for BDP women to discuss issues of concern in their empowerment. Makgato had explained that the general assembly is one of the commitments the women’s wing made upon assuming office in 2015 to create additional organisational structures at national level to ensure BDP women engage more regularly on issues of concern.

She was last year re-elected unopposed when the women met in Maun for the elective congress. At the constituency Makgato is said to have ensured that she takes onboard all the council candidates to work with her. She has also set up a campaign team to focus strictly on parliamentary campaign. News on the ground is that she will have an easy walk against Seloma.

Other women in some of the constituencies will face obstacles against their male counterparts some of whom have established themselves within the constituencies. The BDP has indicated that it believes in democracy and wants women to go through the same process as their male counterparts to gain confidence from voters for political office. The party has indicated that empowering women does not mean giving them a free ride.

Botswana is still far behind in getting higher numbers of women to occupy positions of leadership despite being hailed as a good example of democracy. Other countries in Africa such as Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are far ahead in terms of representation in parliament and cabinet.

Government has been condemned by the opposition for this indicating that some of the countries are now close to attaining the 50 percent mark while Botswana is nowhere close to even 30 percent. According to the opposition, this shows that the BDP government lacks commitment to women empowerment hence its reluctance to implement the Protocol.

Alliance for Progressives (AP) Chairman Maj. Gen Pius Mokgware has revealed that he will be working with Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) councillors in the coming 2019 general election to retain Gabane-Mankgodi constituency.

Mokgware, who is Gabane-Mankgodi Member of Parliament, stated this week that the Councillors are very hard working and he is prepared to work with them. He encouraged electorates to vote for them in next year’s polls. Gabane-Mankgodi has ten (10) Wards.

AP has one (1) ward - Gabane South West. UDC has five wards. Contracting partners Botswana National Front has three (3) - Tsolamosese, Gabane North West and Gabane South East while Botswana Congress Party has one (1)- Gabane North East and Botswana Movement for Democracy has one (1)- Diagane commonly known as Mogoditshane Block 9. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has four being Mankgodi South and North, Metsimotlhabe and Lesirane.

Mokgware told a press conference at his office in Gabane village this week that he has a good relationship with the UDC councillors and he is prepared to join forces with them next year. He said the intention is to ensure that the BDP does not win the constituency.
According to Mokgware as it has been his party’s stance, he also believes in opposition unity. The Gabane-Mankgodi MP expressed confidence that the AP will be working with UDC in 2019.

“I am confident that we would be working together in 2019. We believe in opposition unity as AP. Even though there is a party position, as an individual my position is that having worked with these councillors and the relationship having been healthy, we would have to work together for 2019.

“We need each other and I would not see anything wrong in endorsing them. We would definitely work with other like-minded opposition parties. Even though I cannot tell you what type of model we would use, I am confident that we would be together,” Mokgware stated.

However, some of the UDC councillors questioned the motive rea MP. “I do not totally agree with the MP. It has to be clear that we are speaking the same language. I mean how can he be saying he would be working with us while he has AP council candidates in our wards. We have made it clear to him that we need him at the UDC and will not support him while he is at AP and having council candidates who will battle with us next year. Do you think he would betray his own party to have us elected?” asked one of the councillors who attended the press conference.

Gabane-Mankgodi constituency has been allocated the troubled BMD within the UDC. The orange movement has since failed to find a candidate for the constituency. BNF and the BCP have since taken war to BMD during their recent conference where they expressed interest in constituencies allocated to the BMD.

Last month AP President Ndaba Gaolathe revealed that he has been having informal talks with BCP President Dumelang Saleshando and BNF President Advocate Duma Boko and President of Botswana People’s Party (BPP) Motlatsi Molapisi. AP is a breakaway party of the BMD following a bloodbath elective congress in Bobonong last July.

Gaolathe stated that opposition cooperation should not only come in the form of UDC. He said there are other models that could be pursued. “It is a fallacy to think coalition should be in the form of UDC. Coalition should have a certain characteristic and its foundation should be strong. If there are to be structured discussions they would not have to take a form of the UDC.

“We have not set a timeline as to when we would conclude any talks. Of course our informal chats would lead to formal conversation. As AP we believe to kick-start everything in the right direction we would need the original conveners of coalition. Circumstances force us to work together,” Gaolathe revealed.

Four people were confirmed dead and scores injured in the riots that erupted in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare on Wednesday following the announcement of the preliminary results of Monday’s harmonised election.
The fear, however, was that the figure could rise as tension remained palpable.

Botswana’s Members of Parliament Botlogile Tshireletso and Sedirwa Kgoroba had formed part of the delegation of SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM) under the aegis of SADC-Parliamentary Forum.

Holed in her hotel in Harare, Tshireletso told Botswana Guardian in a telephone interview that election observers gathered at the Harare International Convention Centre had to be whisked away to safety through the back by police escort to escape angry protestors gathered outside and baying for their blood.

Botswana’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe General Matshwenyego Fischer also confirmed on Wednesday in a telephone interview that all Batswana working at the High Commission were safe. The envoy said he had also joined the briefing by observer mission at the convention centre to hear their respective findings when he was alerted by his driver of the demonstrations outside.

“We then left the place to our respective homes where we are following proceedings and what is taking place on television,” Fischer said. But the Local Government and Rural Development Assistant Minister’s account of the events was more dramatic.

Tshireletso, who had observed the election in Mashonaland West as team leader, said just after finishing their announcements at the convention centre, they were informed that there were protestors gathering outside and that they intended to block the election observers inside.

“We were escorted to use the back, but still our police escort was forced to use different routes and ultimately managed to take us to the hotel safely. The situation was unpleasant!” And indeed it was.
Video footages have captured soldiers shooting live bullets at the protestors, most of which are believed to belong to Nelson Chamisa’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) coalition. 

All African Observer missions declared the Zimbabwe electionfree and fair while European Union (EU) held a contrary view. A preliminary report of SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM) released on Wednesday gave Emmerson Mnangangwa’s ZANU PF 146 MPs against MDC’s 62.

During the press conference, the chairman of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) briefed the observer missions that he already had the results but could not announce them as some of the candidates wanted to first verify them. Although the constitution states that the results can be released within four days, he had intended to release them on Wednesday.

This announcement triggered the riots. While Tshireletso maintained that the SADCP findings were that the election was free and fair, the mood on the ground told a different story. So bad was it that she said other election observers were forced to buy flight tickets to return to their respective countries on Wednesday.

 “We are coming back home tomorrow (Thursday),” she said with a quivering voice. 

Areas of improvement
Tshireletso said they had noticed some areas that require improvement. These include improving the communication strategy to make it more transparent and allowing all stakeholders to know who is printing the ballot papers and where they are kept after being printed ve the number of women candidates in line with the SADC quota of 30 percent. In that election Zimbabwe had two women presidential candidates, 240 aspirants for Parliament out of the 1631 MPs and only 1132 candidates for local government out of a total 6576 candidates.

However, SADC PF praised Zimbabwe for a nomination quota reserved for women depending on the performance of their respective parties.
They were also pleased with voter education which in their view was good as evidenced by the turnover at the polling stations with the majority being youth or relatively young people.

SADC PF also noticed that the electoral officers were sufficiently trained on time and prepared to man the polling stations and had enough manpower that were ready to assist at all times.

There were also specific lines reserved for pregnant women, elders, disabled and those with young babies.  There was also a Multi Party Liaison Committee composed of all parties and voters were allowed to use either passport or ID and there was no wastage of materials as none was returned home.

In its draft statement, the SADC Electoral Observer Mission stated that the harmonised election of July 30, 2018 represents “a political watershed” in Zimbabwe’s history as they “open a new chapter” leading towards socio economic recovery and consolidation of democracy.

Alliance for Progressives (AP) President Ndaba Gaolathe this week met his counterpart from Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) for an “informal” discussion.

Information reaching this publication indicates that the meeting that was held at Falcon Crest on Tuesday night between Gaolathe and BMD leader Advocate Sidney Pilane was one of Gaolathe’s informal meetings with opposition leaders to establish a working relationship.

BMD Spokesperson Rasina Winfred Rasina confirmed the meeting but would not be drawn into discussing it further with the media. He said a press statement would be released to that effect. Gaolathe also confirmed the meeting adding that it is all part of an initiative to open dialogue channels with all political players regardless of “how we may feel about them”.

However, he said these discussions are informal and are no part of any systematic discussion about alliances. “Our message to all political players who wish to discuss formally and meaningfully with our movement is that we already have an established practice of recognising the original conveners as the rightful platform for any discussion,” he said.

Since its formation last year, AP has not come out clear as to when it will engage other parties. Instead it said that as a new party it was still building its structures. Last month Gaolathe revealed that he has been having informal talks with Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President Dumelang Saleshando and Botswana National Front (BNF) President Advocate Duma Boko and President of Botswana People’s Party (BPP) Motlatsi Molapisi.

All the three parties are contracting members of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). He indicated that he has not yet met Advocate Pilane but said he would do so soon.
AP broke away from BMD following a bloodbath elective congress in Bobonong last July. And ever since then the AP has maintained that it would not be part of a UDC which has Advocate Pilane or the BMD.

The argument was that such UDC would not be sharing the same ideology as the AP.

Gaolathe, who is also MP for Gaborone Bonnington South, pointed out that the conveners have proven to be trustworthy and credible. He said they can be trusted for their commitment to the aspiration of a collective and united voice for a new Botswana.
With the current divisions within the UDC which have pitted BMD and BPP against BNF and BCP, stakes could be high if BMD and BPP could get sympathy from AP.

The BPP and BMD together with old UDC conveners are now fighting in the same corner against BCP and BNF.

Botswana National Front (BNF) Veterans Association has accused the party’s Central Committee of snubbing them.

The association Chairman Patrick Kgoadi said their report was not discussed during the Rakops conference. He said they had hoped that the Central Committee would have called them to a meeting through Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa where the report would be discussed. Kgoadi stated that the veterans have sought a meeting with the Central Committee since April 2018.

“The veterans seek advice and clarification on central committee’s failure to hold meetings. The Executive Committee which runs the affairs of the Central Committee between scheduled meetings of the Central Committee and the Central Committee which runs the BNF between Congresses and Conferences has been failing to meet. As the veterans we demand explanation,” said Kgoadi.

He indicated that in the build-up to the conference, BNF President Advocate Duma Boko wrote letters dated 17th May 2018 to the Regions for them to submit reports, a duty he said falls under secretary general’s office. He questioned if this means Mohwasa is failing his office and if so has the party leadership reprimanded him.

“On the issue regarding the Treasurer General’s office, funds to finance the Rakops 2018 Conference and buses have been reported to be paid for by the President. Is there a change of policy of the BNF that all activities would be financed by the President in his personal capacity or by the BNF?

“How much has been expended. Has the Central Committee sanctioned such activity of funding BNF activities?” asked Kgoadi adding that they want answers from the leadership.
The veterans are this weekend meeting in Kanye to mobilise members. Kgoadi revealed that they are mobilising members in all the regions. He said hey want BNF veterans to be part of the veterans’ association.

He indicated that at the meeting they would also discuss status of the BNF and the developments in the UDC. BNF veterans have been calling on the BNF to leave the UDC and start talks with other political movements and unions.
The veteran association was formed through a resolution during a BNF Conference in Mahalapye in 2001. It was recognized as one of the party’s organs in Mahalapye recently. The association is the only BNF structure that has called on the party to leave UDC. 

BNF Information and Publicity Secretary Justin Hunyepa said there is no may the Central Committee would refuse to meet an auxiliary body of the party. He said the issues that the veterans want discussed with the central committee could have been discussed during the party’s last month conference in Rakops.

“Veterans as an auxiliary body just like Youth League and Women’s League were at the conference. They were participating in the three commissions where issues were discussed.

They could have raised those issues during the commission for discussions,” said Hunyepa advising the veterans to follow-up with the party’s secretary general if they have any other outstanding issues.
Hunyepa said being the elders of the party the veterans are supposed to know the procedure within the BNF.

President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang Saleshando has warned lawyers who are members of his party against being involved in any of former President Ian Khama’s legal battle.

Khama is currently suing government for refusing to employ his long ally former Director of Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) Isaac Kgosi as his private secretary. Masisi fired Kgosi from his plum post a few days after he took over as head of state.
Khama submitted the names of Kgosi after his then private secretary Brigadier George Tlhalerwa retired from the public service.

Saleshando told the lawyers in a position paper that, if approached by Khama, any attorney who also serves in the BCP structures or has been confirmed as candidate for 2019 general election, should bear in mind that there is need to balance the professional duties with the interest of the organisation they freely and voluntarily chose to associate with. “Retired President Khama presided over a corrupt government that had minimal regard for civil liberties.

Representing a person who embodies all that which we oppose will rightfully earn us the label of hypocrites. Taking instructions from those who championed looting of public resources diminishes our moral authority to make any promise for a better Botswana.
“I therefore expect comrades who may be approached by retired president Khama, or any other prominent member of Botswana Democratic leadership, past or present to be guided by their conscience and stand firm in promotion of the values we collectively promote,” said the BCP leader.

Saleshando explained that this is not to suggest that representing BDP members is prohibited, but representing those who are the face of the ills the BCP have sought to defeat should not be entertained.
The priority of the BCP, according to Saleshando, is to ensure that all those who are alleged to have aided the spiraling corruption that has come to define the country should have their day in court.

“It should worry Batswana that President Masisi says he knows nothing about the Isaac Kgosi docket. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions as well as Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime are also allegedly claiming ignorance on the whereabouts of the docket. It must be noted that in a majority of high profile corruption cases, there has been no conviction at the courts. The BCP will seek the input of its lawyers on the Kgosi issue and work on ensuring that the ‘missing docket’ is located and acted upon accordingly,” he stated.

According to Saleshando chickens have now come home to roost for the BDP government. He said that in Khama the BDP has built a monster that knows no rules and respects no institution. Saleshando pointed out that President Masisi deferred key leadership tasks, such as Vision 2036 to the retired president, giving him the impression that they are co-presidents.

The BDP must be allowed the opportunity to reap what it has sown, he said. Saleshando posited that the mantra that Masisi ‘o baakanya lehatshe’ when he was in full support of all the Khama policies should not lead to innocent citizens exonerating him from the mess that the country finds itself.

Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama has taken the war to his party - Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) - over the candidature of Moemedi Dijeng at his c onstituency.

Khama will be defending his seat to represent the BDP in Serowe West in the 2019 general election against Dijeng and former Member of Parliament for Gaborone North and cabinet member Keletso Rakhudu. Khama has engaged his lawyers- The Law Practice CJ Mazhinye, to challenge in court as a matter of urgency the way vetting was carried out, during which process, Dijeng was approved.

This comes after Khama had put forward demands under time frames for Dijeng to be disqualified. In a letter dated July 20th 2018 Khama gave BDP Central Committee three days to disqualify Dijeng. Failure by the party to act on the matter Khama said he would be left with no choice but to demand for the holding of Extra-ordinary meeting of the National Council within Seven (7) days of receipt of the letter.

Should this fail Khama posited that he would move an urgent application with the High Court to review Dijeng’s approval and interdict holding of primaries in the constituency. He advises the party through his lawyers to act on the matter to avoid litigation.
The letter, addressed to the party chairman Slumber Tsogwane who is also Vice President, states that, “it is the impropriety of the manner in which the approval of prospective candidates recommended by the Branch Committee in Serowe West Constituency was carried out by yourselves that has precipitated the delivery of this communication”.

Khama argues that Dijeng was once found to have contravened the BDP Code of Conduct. He stated in the letter that Dijeng’s candidacy has been approved “despite the fact that the Disciplinary Committee of the very same Central Committee had on the 12th of June 2018, found the said Dijeng guilty of contravening Clause 16 of the party’s Code of Conduct for candidates in primary election stemming from a complaint raised by the Central Region Committee; and despite the fact that the central committee knew or ought to have known of this ruling not only because, in terms of the party’s procedures, all findings of the disciplinary committee are forwarded to it but also that our client made the Central Committee aware of such a finding prior to the vetting process by handing copies of said Disciplinary Committee finding to both the party Secretary General and Chairperson.”

The lawyer indicates that it needs to be pointed out further, that of the many complaints raised by the Central Region Committee before the Disciplinary Committee was also the fact that the Serowe West Branch had been “captured and working in cahoots with said Dijeng” given the circumstances surrounding the incidents leading to the complaint filed.

According to the minister, the Central Committee cannot exercise its powers or and functions beyond that which is prescribed by the governing law of the party. In doing so, Khama said it would be acting without legal authority and any decision taken that lacks legal authority is illegal and is of no force and effect.

“Luckily, the immediate aforegoing position also presents the Central Committee with the perfect opportunity to make the correct decision given that the one purportedly made is an absolute invalidity and to be ignored. In the premises, you are accordingly requested to adhere to the dictates of the party’s regulations and disqualify Moemedi Dijeng from standing as a candidate.

“Should you be unwilling, or believe yourselves unable to do as requested, we have instructions to demand that you convene an extra-ordinary meeting of the National Council within seven (7) days of your receipt of this letter, in order for said Council to review your resolution to approve Dijeng as a candidate. The said Council being empowered to review the Central Committee resolution as per the party Constitution,” reads the letter.
Khama’s lawyers have argued that the decision to approve Dijeng is ultra-vires and invalid when tested against the fabric of the party

Botswana Democratic Party’s transition to the presidency has never ever been smooth.
It started after the demise of founding president, Sir Seretse Khama when tensions arose within the party with aspirants jostling and positioning themselves for the coveted post ahead of Sir Ketumile Masire.

Although the majority BDP-led parliament eventually chose Masire, the writing was clearly on the wall that the presidency was a source of division within the ruling party. Masire was deputised by Lenyeletse Seretse then Peter Mmusi and later Festus Mogae, who would eventually become the country’s third president in 1998.

But, once again that was not without infighting between the party’s Old Guard and Young Turks.  Festus Mogae then brought in Khama from the army barracks to deputise him, again opening the wounds of factionalism. But Mogae insisted that Khama was a unifying factor that would heal the warring factions.

But there were dissenting voices. At the Palapye congress some wanted Khama to take the party chairmanship from Ponatshego Kedikilwe but he declined saying he wanted to understand the party first.

Mogae endorse Khama
But to the surprise of many, in 2003 Khama opted to take over from Kedikilwe without first having the courtesy to inform the very person who had offered the chair a few years ago. Instead it was first announced by Mogae who requested the Democrats to vote for Khama as the chairman of the party during the women’s congress in Mmadinare.

Kedikilwe did not take kindly to this as did many of his followers. Mogae defended his position by saying Khama is his vice and confidante and he was duty bound to support him in all his endeavours. Khama won the closely-contested elections in Gantsi.
Once again BDP infighting reared its ugly head when the party went for its 2008 congress in Kanye. At this conference Khama supported Tebelelo Seretse - Jacob Nkate group. But the group failed dismally and lost all positions to the Daniel Kwelagobe – Gomolemo Motswaledi group which was also known as Barata Phathi.

Seeing that he’d been beaten Khama pulled the carpet under the feet of the winning group by choosing all Sub-committees without consulting the central committee. The move caught Barata - Phati napping as they had expected to be called for a meeting.
That was the beginning of many differences. Motswaledi, then Secretary General, questioned many decisions and Khama suspended him for 60 days. He sought redress at the high court but the case was dismissed on a technicality because a sitting president enjoys immunity against prosecution.

The BDP feuding ultimately led to the party’s split and formation of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). Its MPs - Phillip Makgalemele, Patrick Masimolole, Guma Moyo,  Botsalo  Ntuane,  Odirile Mothala, Gilbert Mangole and Wynter Mmolotsi  resigned to join BMD.
But most of them later returned save for Mangole and Mmolotsi. By then Khama was too strong and he won the general election with a convincing margin of 38 parliamentary seats, but with a diminished popular vote.
The situation is completely different today.

Although currently in disarray, the opposition has proven that it can still win as they did with by-elections in Mochudi East, which were in the hands of BDP.
This poses real doubts about BDP’s ability to win 2019, that is unless they unite now.

This week’s bold decision to postpone Bulela- Ditswe primary elections in all BDP’s strongholds and constituencies where they are incumbent may have far-reaching implications.
Firstly, the Independent Electoral Commissions (IEC) has called voter registration for 3rd September until 11 November 2018 and due to the new amendment to the Electoral Act, there will not be supplementary registration as it has been the norm.

Political commentators say the idea of BDP having primary elections in August and, or before was to ensure that party candidates are identified and start mobilising voters to register for the election.
The BDP delay will disadvantage them as their ability to mobilise voters will be affected because they do not have candidates.

 Secondly, delaying the primary elections in its key constituencies could prove detrimental for BDP as it runs the risk of failing to resolve the appeals and subsequent counselling that will arise from the primary elections.
Thirdly, next year will be a tight year with the main focus being general election which will be held sometime in October. But, serious focus for general election starts in February where attention switches from one elective congress.
The first congress is the Youth congress in February, then followed by the Women either in March or April, finally the main congress in July.

If the first two congresses could start before the party is done with its appeals then there will be disaster for the BDP because both the youth and the Women’s elective congresses always set the tone for the main congress in terms of who will win.

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) factional wars have started to tear the party apart ahead of 2019 general elections, Botswana Guardian can reveal.

The party is divided in two with some supporting former president Ian Khama while others are fighting in the corner of President Mokgweetsi Masisi. The fight between the two factions has resulted in Bulela-Ditswe which was scheduled for this weekend being suspended indefinitely.

The BDP postponed the primaries on allegations of hacking of the party’s system. However, insiders have revealed that this is just an ‘excuse’ by those in support of Masisi as they want to re-strategise following a tip-off that the Khama-led team is also targeting candidates who are sympathetic to Masisi.  The regrouping is also for the Masisi team to consolidate power to be able to contain the situation even post primary elections.

The Masisi camp has also been targeting some of the candidates who were deemed to be anti-Masisi administration.  Mostly those on the Masisi hit list are those who were not supporting him last year when he contested the party’s chairmanship. Intelligence from both factions is said to be high with each trying to infiltrate the other.

The dismissal of the hacking according to insiders is on the basis that verification of voters’ rolls has been ongoing for the past three months with the involvement of Electoral Board and Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) deployees across the country. The entrance of Khama in the factional turf follows the ‘perceived’ frustrations and humiliations the former president has repeatedly suffered lately at the hands of Masisi.

Indications are that Khama had thought Masisi would be eating from his palm but after assuming the presidency of the party and that of the country, Masisi started cracking the whip on Khama’s administration. Masisi has since asserted his control and Khama, like any other citizen or BDP member, has to dance to his tunes. This is said to have angered Khama who has since launched a war on Masisi and his team. Khama is said to be consolidating power especially in the central district which is BDP’s biggest Region.

Khama has the advantage of being Bangwato Paramount chief to gain access in the region where he addresses Kgotla meetings and does walkabouts. The Khama factor is said to be causing BDP Central Committee, some ministers and Members of Parliament who want to survive Bulela-Ditswe, a serious headache. Some have allegedly called for the former president to be put on a tight leash before things spiral out of control.

Some Members of Parliament and cabinet ministers are said to have expressed concern over Khama’s latest conduct. It is alleged that this has made them to influence the postponement of the elections. Khama has already visited constituencies held by some key members of the party and Central Committee such as party chairman and Vice President Slumber Tsogwane who faces a tight competition in Boteti West and Deputy Secretary General and Minister of Defence Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi who is also facing an uphill battle in his constituency. 

While the factional turf is getting nasty, it is said to have also hit Tsholetsa House where the voters’ roll and membership cards are made. Information gathered by this publication revealed that the party office does not make corrections to the voters’ rolls which were corrected by local structures, when they reach Tsholetsa House.  In the same fashion some voters have been blacklisted from the voters’ rolls even staunch BDP members.

The secretariat, together with some Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) members, have been accused of conniving to blacklist some voters. Some voters have been removed from the voters’ roll of a certain ward and moved to another ward which they do not reside in.  BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi has admitted that there has been a problem regarding the voters’ rolls. He has however maintained that there is no animosity between Khama and Masisi.

He said that just like other former presidents, Khama contributes to the party in any way possible. He said comments that are being made would not derail the BDP Central Committee from delivering credible elections.  He said as a party that has been in power for more than 50 years and has been delivering credible elections, they would not risk this time around to deliver compromised primary elections in the 40 constituencies. According to Balopi, Khama has a right to his opinion on how he sees things but as BDP they are prepared to win the 2019 general election with a convincing margin.

Balopi indicated that a meeting with the over 1000 candidates, central committee members, branch and regional leadership scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) in Palapye is expected to address all the issues including the issues of the primaries. He said expectation is that at the meeting the issue of hacking would have been handled and a new date of election communicated.

The last vestiges of the Khama dynasty that has spanned over 50 years are suddenly self-destructing in a public spectacle that defies logic and denigrates all the values that founding president Sir Seretse Khama espoused. Immediate past president Ian Khama is not only suing President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s government for refusing his choice of private secretary in the person of former director of the notorious spy agency, DISS, Isaac Kgosi, but his younger brother, Minister and MP for Serowe West, Tshekedi Khama is also suing the party (BDP) at whose pleasure he serves. Perhaps this sordid turn of events is best summed up by BCP president’s quip that ‘chickens have now come home to roost for the BDP government’ because in Khama- he posits an epigram- the BDP has built a ‘monster that knows no rules and respects no institution’, and must therefore, be allowed the opportunity to ‘reap what it has sown’ as  factional wars begin to tear the party apart ahead of  the 2019 general election.

 multi-million Pula lawsuit and counter-claim between embattled Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) and Mamataz Enterprise (Pty) Ltd owned by Ernest Molome is yet to be allocated a judge following the departure of Justice Leatile Dambe.

Justice Dambe is headed to the Court of Appeal and is currently only handling partly heard matters. The new judge who will be allocated the case is expected to set new dates for the case. The case was initially scheduled to be heard this week on Tuesday by Justice Dambe. The union, which is currently dogged by leadership crisis, will through its commercial wing, Babereki Investments (Pty) Ltd face off with Molome and his company Mamataz Enterprises (Pty) Ltd as Babereki wants to recover over P11.6 million from the latter.

The union argues that the P11.6 million was erroneously paid to Molome’s company as commission between September and November 2016. BOPEU – represented by its then Executive Chairman Andrew Motsamai, had in September 2016 entered into an agreement with Mamataz to raise capital for the union’s commercial wing.

The funds raised were to be used for growing the micro lending and asset management businesses of BOPEU, held under the Babereki conglomerate. In the contract signed by Motsamai and Molome the parties agreed that a three (3) per cent facilitation fee of the capital raised shall be paid to Mamataz by Babereki Investments. BOPEU argues that from the targeted P1.2 billion only P50 million was secured but strangely Mamataz was paid about P13 million.

The union maintains that it was robbed P11.604 million because the signed contract stipulated clearly that the 3 percent was to be paid on capital raised. According to the union from the secured P50 million Mamataz was entitled to P1.5 million. According to court papers the P50 million was secured from Botswana Life. According to Babereki the payment of the amount was not based on the contract; was not for any service rendered; was done fraudulently or a result of a conspiracy to defraud Babereki and was made without any entitlement whatsoever by Molome and Mamataz to such funds.

“The payment of P11.6 million was unlawful, alternatively illegal, alternatively fraudulent payment made to Molome and Mamataz with interest at the rate of 10 percent from the date of disbursement to the date of payment and the costs of suit,” argues Babereki. Molome has however denied owing Babereki Investment and has in turn slapped the union with a counterclaim. He argues that the union owes him a balance of about P25 million.

He pointed out that Babereki, instead of paying the entire 3 per cent of the P1.2 billion raised by them (Molome and Mamataz) of which only P50 million was drawn down, which is about P36 million, only paid P11. 604 million leaving a balance of P25 million which is due and owed.

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) will defend its decision to allow the candidacy of Moemedi Dijeng against the aggrieved incumbent Member of Parliament for Serowe West, Tshekedi Khama, who has since dragged the party to court.

Khama, who is also Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, has taken his party to court to challenge the candidature of one of his challengers in the constituency, Moemedi Dijeng. The case is likely to compromise the holding of Bulela-Ditswe in the constituency next week Saturday. The case was scheduled to be heard at Lobatse High Court on Monday this week but was postponed to yesterday (Thursday). 

Khama proceeded to court after BDP Central Committee refused to heed his demands. Khama would be defending his seat to represent the BDP in Serowe West in the 2019 general election against Dijeng and former Member of Parliament for Gaborone North and cabinet member Keletso Rakhudu. Khama had put forward demands under timeframes for Dijeng to be disqualified.

In a letter dated July 20th 2018, Khama gave BDP Central Committee three days to disqualify Dijeng. Failure by the party to act on the matter Khama said he would be left with no choice but to demand for the holding of extra-ordinary meeting of the National Council within Seven (7) days of receipt of the letter. Should this fail Khama posited that he would move an urgent application with the High Court to review Dijeng’s approval and interdict holding of primaries in the constituency. BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi said BDP as an entity would be taking the matter head on and is hopeful of victory.

He said it would be up to Khama as he is the one who alleges to prove his case. “As an entity we are ready to respond to the allegations. We are however not fighting the applicant. We would abide by any decision that the court would have handed down. We are a law abiding democratic party,” said Balopi at a press briefing in Palapye. Balopi expressed hope that the matter would be resolved before the 25th of this month, also stating that it would not be for the first time that the party faced a similar matter.

He cited the case which was brought by Whyte Marobela against the party and resulted with the party being barred from fielding a candidate at a by-election in Francistown West Constituency in 2013. The BDP would later win the case on appeal. According to Balopi, as the BDP they have followed the right procedure when dealing with Khama’s matter. Khama in a letter addressed to the party chairman Slumber Tsogwane states that, “it is the impropriety of the manner in which the approval of prospective candidates recommended by the Branch Committee in Serowe West Constituency was carried out by yourselves that has precipitated the delivery of this communication”.

Khama argues that Dijeng was once found to have contravened the BDP Code of Conduct. He stated through his lawyers in the letter that Dijeng candidacy has been approved, “despite the fact that the Disciplinary Committee of the very same Central Committee had on the 12th of June 2018, found the said Dijeng guilty of contravening Clause 16 of the party’s Code of Conduct for candidates in primary election stemming from a complaint raised by the Central Region Committee; and despite the fact that the central committee knew or ought to have known of this ruling not only because, in terms of the party’s procedures, all findings of the disciplinary committee are forwarded to it but also that our client made the Central Committee aware of such findings prior to the vetting process by handing copies of said Disciplinary Committee findings to both the party Secretary General and Chairperson.”

According to the minister, the Central Committee cannot exercise its powers or and functions beyond that which is prescribed by the governing law of the party. In doing so, Khama said it would be acting without legal authority and any decision taken that lack legal authority is illegal and is of no force and effect.

he Office of the President (OP) will no longer move its domicile address to Orapa House subsequent to the completion of renovations, which were initially meant to transform the building for use by the top office address in the country.

BG News can reveal that although the tender will be awarded in two weeks, the Directorate of Intelligence Security Services (DISS) vetted the short listed companies and will supervise the renovations of the building as it is a high risk security area.
In 2014  Parliament agreed to release an amount of P292, 598 million following a proposal from the Office of the President.

BG News has it on good authority that the top two in the presidency, including the office of the Vice president  and their immediate staff will remain housed at the current building, whilst all other ministries and departments which fall under the presidency will relocate.
This however will take time as Gaborone’s iconic building is still undergoing make up.

Speaking to BG News and confirming the above,  the newly appointed Government Spokesperson, John- Thomas Dipowe said the tenders for the refurbishment will be awarded in a fortnight’s time and the project will be under the supervision of the DISS because of its security features.

The presidency could have long moved to Orapa House if government had its way. Twice the proposal was brought before Parliament and rejected on both occasions. It remains a mystery how Parliament which was initially reluctant to commit on the deal approved the P293 million deal in 2014.
BG News has been reliably informed that De Beers had previously offered Orapa House to government at a negotiated cost of P79 million, which escalated slightly to a little over P88 million as a result of inclusion of VAT.

But legislators were reluctant to approve the acquisition on two occasions arguing that the deal was not justifiable considering a tighter squeeze on the budget during the National Development Plan 10.
Legislators also argued strongly that Gaborone has an oversupply of office accommodation and that there was no urgency in acquiring the building as it ccould be budgeted for in the following financial year.

An initial snap evaluation placed the value of Orapa House at P76 million but a comprehensive valuation undertaken in late October 2012 estimated its market value at P74 million.

With tension besieging Botswana National Front over running party affairs, the most notable aggrieved organ appears to be the Veteran Association, led by Patrick Kgoadi. The elderly apparently presented complaints dossier at the party’s National Conference held in Rakops last month. This week Botswana Guardian (BG) News Reporter Nicholas Mokwena chat with BNF Secretary General, Moeti Mohwasa(MM) on some of the key issues raised in the report.

BG:How true is that the BNF Veterans Association claims that they have presented a Report during the party’s conference in Rakops but it was never discussed?
MM:In terms of the constitution, all organs of the BNF fall under the office of the Secretary General.  They are therefore expected to submit reports to the secretary general. It is these reports that inform the Secretary General’s Report to the Conference.

In the Secretary General’s Report there was a part that dealt with the Veterans Association which was based on their Report. The Association was included in the Commissions which discussed amongst others, the Secretary General’s Report.

This means that they had two opportunities to guide the resolutions that emerged from the conference through their Report to the Secretary General and by participating in the Commissions. The Organs or auxiliary bodies do not report directly to the Conference. This is so basic that I thought the Veterans would know.

BG: The veterans also claim they have been seeking audience with the BNF Central Committee through your office (Secretary General office) to no avail
MM: Yes, it is true. We could not meet them before the Conference though we had wanted to due to time constraints. They had however indicated the issues that they had wanted us to discuss, the issues we believe had an opportunity to ventilate at the Conference. It is common knowledge that the Conference is an upper structure from the Central Committee. We have written them a letter apologising for our failure to meet them.

In the same letter we have indicated that we are still open for a meeting, which procedurally will discuss new issues.

BG: In the report, apparently presented at the Conference, the veterans question your competency on grounds that the BNF President wrote letters to regions in May 2018 asking them to submit reports
MM: It seems the Veterans are very economical with the truth. Secondly, it is regrettable that they continue to raise internal party matters in the media. Unfortunately this leaves us with no option but to correct and contextualise these assertions. 

First it is the Secretary General who issued the Conference notice.  Subsequent to that on the 20th June the Secretary General wrote a letter to the structures communicating details regarding preparations for the Conference. Yes, the President also wrote to the structures and copied the Secretary General. But this was in between these correspondences.But then do you judge one’s competence on the basis of letters; who wrote what instead of who?

BG: Is the President empowered to carry out such a task? Could you please refer us to the appropriate Article in the BNF Constitution?
MM: I will reluctantly go into that.  You should appreciate that the BNF President can take any interim decision pending convocation of any relevant body or organ. We can refer to article 19.3.1 to 19.3.3. What then follows is a question of interpretation.

BG: Is it true that the BNF Executive Committee is failing to meet?
MM: There is a laid down procedure for convening of such meetings.  I am not accustomed to discussing such details with external forces.

BG: How often does the executive committee meet?
MM: As and when it is necessary

BG: When was the last meeting of the executive committee and that of the central committee?
MM: The central committee met yesterday, 13th August, 2018. It adjourned and is continuing with its sitting on the 14th August, 2018 (today).

Like the rest of the world, Botswana has not escaped the effects of climate change, which over the years have manifested themselves in extreme temperatures, heat waves, floods, heavy rainfall and recurring droughts.

Given its cross-cutting nature, the resultant impacts of climate change on the economy have been far-reaching. In the agricultural sector, crops and livestock production have drastically declined leading to reduced household incomes and ultimately, loss of livelihoods – thereby exacerbating poverty levels and burdening the already choked government welfare system.

Land degradation, loss of biodiversity and emergence of new pests and diseases have suddenly become the norm rather than the exception, which factors ultimately led government to stand up, take notice and begin tackling the elephant in the room that wouldn’t just go away.

Although the country’s response to this threat – the biggest in the 2st Century to the survival of humankind – has been slow, there is a discernible effort building up, a clear sign that the country doesn’t want to be left behind.
Already Botswana has signed and ratified quite a number of international treaties related to climate change. A Climate Change expert at the Department of Metrological Services, Dorcas Masisi cited among these, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The objective of this Convention and any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties (COP) may adopt is to achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.

Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner. Botswana ratified this Convention on 27 Jan uary1994 so that it entered into force on 27 April 1994.

Botswana is also a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries, as well as its amendment called Doha Amendment,. The country ratified the Kyoto Protocol on 8 August 2003 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. The Doha Amendment was ratified and entered into force on 7 March 2016.

And lately the country joined the global lobby to combat climate change effects by assenting to the Paris Agreement on 11 November 2016 so that it entered into force on 11 Dec ember 2016.  The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to submit their best efforts through “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead. This includes requirements that all Parties report regularly on their emissions and on their implementation efforts.

In response to the threat of depletion of the ozone layer, the global community developed and signed the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1985 and the Montreal Protocol for the protection of the ozone layer in 1987. Botswana acceded to both in 1992. 
The climate change experts at the Metrology department say that the driving force behind the treaty was the protection of human health against damages caused by the increase of Ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth as a result of ozone depletion.Under the Convention and the Protocol, Botswana’s obligation is to reduce the consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in the country.

These are gases that are used in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Fire Fighting. The country does so by following a specific phase out schedule set by Parties to the Montreal Protocol which also requires that each country submit, on annual basis, its production and consumption data to the Ozone Secretariat. Botswana is also in the process of ratifying the Kigali Amendment, which is the recent amendment to the Montreal Protocol of 1992, adopted in 2016. Under the Kigali Amendment, parties reached an agreement to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

By this commitment, Botswana has demonstrated a willingness to go to all extremes to protect her biodiversity and preserve it for future generations. But with the advent of climate change, which is explained as “the measurable variation in the state of the climate over an extended period of time – thee has been added pressure on the country’s leadership to show political will.

There has been a groundswell of opinion that the National Policy on Climate Change has remained on draft form for a long time: Official response to this recurring query is that the draft has been circulated through ministries is hoped will be submitted to the next parliament sitting. Additionally, the National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan are being developed with funding from the United Nations Development Programme. (UNDP)

The Strategy and Action Plan will assist in the implementation of the Policy. The consultants have to complete the work by June 2018. Currently the country does not have National Mitigation/Adaptation Plans. It is envisaged that the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan will have the plans.

The mitigation and adaptation measures are contained in the reports that are called National Communications (NC) which the country is required to submit to UNFCCC as an obligation, but most of these measures are being implemented by the different institutions and individuals. And this is one grey area currently frustrating the country’s efforts to transition to low carbon development.

The imperative of policy coordination and coherence cannot be gainsaid. Mitigation generally refers to uptake of renewable energy technology while adaptation actions relate to adoption of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practises and sustainable natural resource management. Botswana has proposed a 15% greenhouse (GHG) emission reduction by 2030 starting from 2010

Botswana’s NDC were based on different projects that the departments/institutions were embarking on and there was a conditionality that implementation of these projects can only be achieved if funding was provided. Botswana’s National Communications and National Determined Contributions has identified agriculture sector as one of the highest priority sectors where urgent and immediate action is needed to build resilience through adaptation and mitigation.

A group of experts drawn from various public, private, civil society and farmers associations – has just wrapped up a five-day Botswana Climate Finance Design Workshop for GCF Concept Note Development. The aim of the UNDP-sponsored Department of Agricultural l Research workshop was to develop a ‘Concept Note’- or document to request funding from the UNFCCC organ called GCF to build climate resilience in agricultural systems in the country.

Workshop convener, Douglas Machacha who is DAR acting deputy director and the workshop Facilitator, Dr George Wamokoya,, a consultant of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) – radiated joy Wednesday halfway through the development of the Concept Note.

They were confident that the Concept Note would eventually be turned into a full Proposal. And with the help of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and UNDP, both of which are the National Designated Authority (DSA) and Accredited Entity (AE) respectively, it is hoped this process should culminate in securing funding from the GCF or development partners to help the country build climate resilience in her economy.

According to the UNAIDS When Women Lead; Change Happens report of 2017, HIV and AIDS is today the, “...leading cause of death among women aged 30 - 49 globally.” Compounding this figure is information from the same report, which states that 18.6 million women and girls are currently living with HIV globally with one million new infections per year estimated for this key population. Corroborating this data from UNAIDS is information from the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS).

In 2008 the results of BAIS III indicated that 17.6 percent of Batswana were living with HIV and the prevalence amongst females was higher at 20.4 percent while males had 14.2 percent. The 2013 BAIS results continued to show the undue impact the disease is having on women with a relatively higher prevalence rate of 20.8 percent compared to 15.6 percent for males. 

Cindy Kelemi from the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV and AIDS or BONELA states that, “both studies verify that HIV impacts women more than men and there remains no doubt that HIV is wearing a female face.” Other results from the BAIS 2013 survey further highlight how females are disproportionately affected by HIV, with prevalence predominantly higher among females particularly those aged 25 and 44 years old. Kelemi points to religious and cultural perceptions, which perpetuate HIV stigma and also hinder the community’s response to HIV and AIDS treatment, care and support services or messages.

Gender Based Violence (GBV) is also cited as a debilitating factor, which prevents women to negotiate safer sex. The Gender Based Violence Indicators Study Botswana conducted in 2011 by Gender Links and the Women’s Affairs Department in Botswana indicates that 67.3 percent of women have in their lifetime experienced gender-based violence. The study further shows that in most cases the violence is perpetrated by intimate partners.

Gomolemo Rasesigo, the Country Manager of Gender Links Botswana, acknowledges that violence exists under different circumstances which is why the term Gender Based Violence was coined. “Men do experience violence and are included in the description hence the term gender,” she emphasises however that, “What we cannot do is run away from the fact that this violence or phenomenon is largely affecting women.

The Domestic Violence Act exists as well; it is specific to women because they are on the receiving end. Women get raped and from a social point of view we cannot underplay that.” Rasesigo highlights that unlike murder cases, not all rape cases make it into the media reports or are even reported to the police.

A Swedish Workplace HIV and AIDS Programme advocate based in Zimbabwe, Edith Maziofa-Tapfuma reiterates this observation that if women are not in complete control of their sexual and reproductive rights they will as a population continue to be largely impacted by HIV compared to their male counter parts. “We need women and girls to be economically empowered, so they are better able to negotiate for safe sex,” says Maziofa-Tapfuma.

In addition, she emphasises that to help circumvent the impact of HIV is the need for open dialogue for topics considered taboo in the community. “Africa needs to start being open about LGBTI issues. Men-who-have-sex-with-men are staying underground or on the down-low but are also getting married to help disguise themselves. These are some of the key drivers of the epidemic and further add to the vulnerability of women and girls.”

Magdeline Mathiba-Madibela is another gender activist who is also the Country Manager for UN Women (Botswana). She considers that more investment is required to create targeted HIV prevention programs for women to help empower them at a “personal level”. Mathiba-Madibela says, “Capacity building for women is critical when it comes to HIV. When women are empowered, particularly at a personal level they are able to deal with gender power relations, which are key to changing the HIV status quo.

Women as change agents in society need to challenge patriarchy which fuels power imbalance in relationships.” Rasesigo agrees with Mathiba-Madibela and adds that it is disheartening when women seem to be the main gate-keepers of patriarchy, saying, “women are silent on these issues, particularly those in leadership positions.” Kelemi also supports Mathiba-Madibela in regard to removing barriers that will help reduce the burden of HIV among women adding that, “there is need to remove structural and legal barriers.

Investment for HIV prevention has gone down. Therefore, we need to intensify prevention efforts for women and empower them to claim their rights.” Mathiba-Madibela points out that male involvement is necessary to have an all-inclusive response to HIV and AIDS, “men must be part of the solution.”

Her advice is for more alignments to be created with “custodians of culture and influential men in society” to ensure gender scales are balanced, “we need to work with chiefs and traditional leaders include them as champions for gender equality.

Men need to be champions for gender equality and women’s empowerment including their protection from abuse, and any form of danger. In UN Women we have what we call Heforshe Champions,” says Mathiba-Madimela as she emphasises the need for total participation of the community if the virus is to be eradicated and its burden removed from women and girls. 

Controversy continues to haunt Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections dubbed Bulela-Ditswe in local lingo, as yet again there are fears of compromised elections next week Saturday.

Candidates in most of the constituencies that will go to the polls next week have expressed concern that the party might not deliver credible elections as the party leadership promised during a consultative meeting with candidates in Palapye last weekend. It has since emerged that the first date set for verification of voters’ roll has been missed as voters’ rolls failed to reach constituencies by the set date of Wednesday this week (the 15th August 2018).

Voters’ rolls were to be dispatched to the 40 constituencies for verification and be returned to the party head-office today (Friday 17th August 2018). After being returned to head-office the party’s National Electoral Board was expected to carry out an audit to ascertain that everything is in order.

“If we get the voters’ rolls a day later how are we expected to be able to have finished the process of verification and have the rolls returned? Remember this is not an easy process because there has to be names that are to be added and those that have to be removed from the voters’ rolls.

It means just running through the process with no vigorous scrutiny as should be the case because these are final voters’ rolls that would be used for voting on the 25th of August 2018,” said one of the Parliamentary candidates who preferred anonymity. Sources have indicated that the party should have secured a date later in November this year or next year between January and March.

The candidates believe the time that the party has put for itself after the postponement is too close while there is too much work that needs to be attended to. They have opined that what was announced at the Palapye meeting would not be achieved and the party would be in chaos due to compromised elections. Some within the party have also predicted a lot of court cases post the primaries. Over a thousand candidates for both Parliament and council seats are expected to tussle it out next week and each wants the playing field to be level. 

BDP Secretary General, Mpho Balopi has indicated that they are ready to deliver credible elections. He said the party is working round the clock to ensure that all the set out deadlines are met. He stated that most of the problems raised by candidates would be addressed through resolutions that were taken during the meeting at Majestic Five in Palapye.

 “We have decided that people who appear in the voters’ roll but do not have membership cards would be allowed to vote using Omang. This is because the number in the Omang card is the same that appears in the membership card. We have also set up our polling station in such a way that a person would not be able to vote more than once which is why we have also introduced the use of ink for the voters,” Balopi pointed out.

Balopi revealed that the Central Committee and Electoral Board has resolved that Political Education and Elections Committee and a special team will be assigned to attend unresolved complaints.

Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU), President Masego Mogwera’s led National Office Bearers (NOB) have been accused of possibly embezzling huge funds from the union.

The legal battle has pitted BOPEU as 1st Applicant followed by Ogaufi Masame, Zibani Philemon, Mosalagae Tlhako and Motswaledi Monaiwa against NOB members being union President Masego Mogwera as 1st Respondent followed by Tlhabologo Galekhutle (Treasurer), Martin Gabobake (1st Deputy President), Topias Marenga (General Secretary) and Ketlhapelang Karabo (Deputy General Secretary).

Following a heated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last month at Cresta Lodge in Gaborone, Mogwera and team were suspended pending investigation while Philemon was subsequently appointed acting president.
Mogwera’s team retaliated by declaring a state of emergency and suspended Philemon and crew. NOB members are also part of the NEC.

On the 1st August 2018, Applicants approached the Court on urgency mainly to: declare as lawful the meeting of the National Executive Committee (“NEC”) held on Saturday 28 July 2018 (the “Meeting”) at which Respondents were suspended pending investigation and possible disciplinary action; restrain the Respondents from holding themselves as rightful governing officials of BOPEU and evicting them out of the premises of BOPEU as well as setting aside the declaration of state of emergency made by Gabobake and setting aside the suspension of Masame, Philemon, Tlhako, Monaiwa by Mogwera. Lobatse High Court is today (Friday) scheduled to make a ruling on the urgency of the matter before merits of the case could be argued.

According to the head of arguments filed before court seen by this publication, Philemon and team reveal that they discovered during the meeting that the 2nd to 5th Respondents were earning salaries from BOPEU without the approval of the National General Council (NGC) or Central Executive Committee (CEC), this being in violation of Article 53.2 of the BOPEU Constitution.

“Consequently in the NEC’s view there was a need to look into a case of possible embezzlement or misappropriation of huge funds of the Union. This kind of breach of the Constitution of the Union amounts to serious misconduct under Article 48.1.2 of the Constitution of the Union. The NEC at the meeting found it necessary and in the interest of the Union to suspend these Respondents pending an investigation and possible disciplinary action as provided for under Article 47.4 of the Constitution of the Union.

In terms of Article 53.1 of the Constitution of the Union, remuneration of seconded office bearers will be determined by the NGC or CEC as a recommendation from the Finance Committee. The Respondents maintain that their remuneration was approved,” read the court papers.

Regarding the alleged chaos of the last month meeting, the Applicants' contention is that discussions were very cordial during the meeting. It is argued that an audio recording reflects that the meeting was an orderly meeting. They posited that what is admitted is that there were divergent views from the Respondents and the Applicants.

“The Respondents have an original copy of the recording, it is for them to challenge the veracity and/or authenticity of the recording and its transcription by Applicants. This recording is a relevant piece of evidence of what transpired at the meeting especially in so far as it relates to the demeanour of the meeting. The allegations of chaos or rowdiness during the meeting have not been particularised. The Respondents make general averments without explaining the disorder.”

A new chapter within the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change is expected to take shape this week as the Registrar of Societies has rejected the party’s constitution.

The Registrar of Societies, Davids Okello-Wengi this week wrote to the UDC Secretary General in response to the two constitutions submitted by the warring parties within the UDC.
The constitution, which has been submitted to the Registrar of Societies, has divided the four UDC constituents of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana People’s Party (BPP).

BCP and BNF, who submitted an amended constitution to the registrar, are in one corner pitted against BMD and BPP who are opposed to the submitted constitution. Both BCP and BNF set themselves similar deadlines during their respective conferences last month.

BNF resolved that having noted that the new UDC constitution has been filed with the Registrar of Societies, the BNF should ensure that the process is concluded within twenty-one (21) days. The BCP on the other hand resolved that having been appraised and deliberated thereof on the developments within the UDC collective, conference resolved to remain in the UDC, but directed that due to limited time before registration for the general election, all outstanding matters within the UDC should be resolved by mid-August 2018.

Responding to the submitted constitutions, the Registrar said that UDC is not a political party but a cooperation agreement by the four political parties for a common political goal. “All four parties are listed in the schedule, therefore, in our opinion, the registration of UDC’s constitution falls outside the scope of the Act,” reads the letter in part which some within the UDC have described as confusing.

Okello-Wengi described in the letter that the term “society” is defined in Section 3 of the Act to exclude any political party listed in the Schedule of the Act. The Registrar listed the political parties listed in the Schedule to the Act as BMD, BCP, BPP and BNF. “Therefore, the registration of political parties falls outside the scope of the Act,” reads the letter dated 13 August 2018.

It is not yet clear how the four parties within the constitution will react to the Registrar’s letter, however a source within the BCP told this publication that their lawyers will look into the matter and advice.
At press time BCP’s Phillip Monowe, who at the time was not aware of the letter, said as the party they have not been briefed by their representatives at the UDC leadership on progress regarding the constitution and other pending matters.

“Remember the constitution was not the only outstanding issue. We have the issue of wards allocation as well. There are areas where we engage with BNF, BMD and BPP on various wards. So our representatives on these matters would have to brief us after the deadline so that we decide a way forward. It is after these reports that we would be able to give a clear picture of where we stand,” said Monowe.

When addressing the media on Wednesday morning, BNF Secretary General who doubles as UDC Head of Communications, Moeti Mohwasa indicated that they hope to receive response from Registrar by end of day. However, when contacted by this publication at the end of business on Wednesday, Mohwasa said the response had not arrived yet.

Submission and approval of the UDC constitution has been one of the thorny issues that the BCP had long wanted dealt with as a matter of urgency. With both set deadlines having passed it is yet to be seen what would be the next cause of action by the two parties and their colleagues in the coalition. There have been speculations that should the constitution be approved, BMD and BPP would challenge such in court.

The constitution was submitted by UDC President Advocate Duma Boko and his deputy, Dumelang Saleshando who is also President of the BCP. The BMD and BPP have contested the submitted constitution through letters written to the Registrar of Societies.
Mohwasa revealed during the BNF press conference in Gaborone this week that they remain hopeful of a positive feedback. He told the media that proper procedure was followed when the constitution was submitted. According to Mohwasa all the necessary documents have been filed together with the constitution.

Mohwasa insists all procedures were followed to the letter including the signatory issue.
“During a meeting in Polokwane in 2016 it was agreed that negotiations would be between UDC and BCP. There were only two negotiating teams with six people from UDC and six people from BCP. We cannot now say individual parties were negotiating and the four presidents should sign, that would be insincere. Even our streams were just technical teams. UDC team was led by BNF Vice President Dr. Prince Dibeela while the BCP team was led by its Vice President Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang. So people should stop misleading themselves, well I do not know if they are misleading themselves or just undermining the President of the UDC,” said Mohwasa.

 “The constitution that has been submitted is the one that was agreed by the people. Authority came from the majority which is the members from all the four parties who gathered at Boipuso Hall in February this year. We cannot have 16 people who make up the UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) deciding for over thousands of people. As the NEC we cannot be seen to stifle things. The Boipuso Congress was the closing chapter of the UDC and BCP negotiations and the same congress which carries more weight than the NEC.”