- Accuse him of violating party constitution by withdrawing from UDC
- Says disciplinary committee has neither acknowledged letter or acted
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
Concerned Members of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) have given the Disciplinary Committee (DC) an ultimatum of seven days to take action against BPF president Mephato Reatile for withdrawing the party from the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Led by Mmapula Amos, Ford Moiteela and Amogelang Mokwena, the Concerned Members have instructed Segadimo Legal Practice to have Reatile appear before the DC over his decision.
The trio says while the National Conference and extra-ordinary congress of the BPF last year resolved that appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against all forms of indiscipline, particularly those that defy the decision of the party to join UDC, the DC is yet to do so.
Student Patriotic Front
“On the 6th April 2024, Reatile held a media briefing where he announced and claimed that together with the National Executive Committee they have taken a decision to withdraw from UDC,” they wrote to the law firm.
“On 26th June 2024, the Student Patriotic Front (SPF), an ancillary organ of the party, wrote a letter to the DC in terms of which it laid several complaints of misconduct against Reatile.
“They accused the party president of violating the constitution by withdrawing it from the coalition. To-date, the DC has neither acknowledged the letter nor taken any action to determine whether Reatile had violated the party constitution as alleged by the SPF.
National congress
“We hereby instruct you to institute the disciplinary proceedings against the party president for violation of the resolution of party congress.
“It is common cause that the national congress is the ultimate decision-making organ of the party and is expressly empowered by the Clause 13.4.1 of the constitution to amend or revoke any decision made by the any organ of the BPF.”
The Concerned Members asked why the DC failed to take action against Reatile when action was taken against the former BPF president Biggie Butale for similar misconduct.
Within seven days
According to the Concerned Members the failure to take action against Reatile is a deliberate attempt to subvert the very BPF constitution that the DC is obligated to protect.
“In the event that you fail to comply with our demand within seven days, we will approach the courts of law,” the trio asserted.