BDP still planning how to counteract Venso-Moitoi’s move
TEFO PHEAGE
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Presidential candidate, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi is determined to sue her political party, the BDP and has engaged renowned attorney Dick Bayford to wage the war. Moitoi is protesting the Serowe regional Congress results, which saw incumbent, Mokgweetsi Masisi being endorsed ahead of her in her backyard and wants the courts to overturn the endorsement.
Masisi got 86 votes compared to Venson-Moitoi’s 49 votes at the Central Regional Congress. Moitoi ‘s husband, Prince confirmed to this publication that they have engaged the experienced Dick Bayford on the matter but would not go into the details referring this publication to the lawyers. “I know she has engaged Mr Dick Bayford on the matter. You may want to contact Mr Bayford for further details,” he said when asked about who is representing his wife.
It is not the first time Bayford has represented Moitoi during difficult times. Moitoi engaged her brother in law- Bayford in 1993 in her matter against the Attorney General when she wanted to set aside or correct the findings of the Presidential Commission into the operations of the Botswana Housing Corporation and to set aside the decision of the President to dismiss her, in so far as the decision to dismiss her was based on the findings of the commission.
It is not yet clear what relief Moitoi is seeking against the BDP but her legal challenge is based on irregularities in the manner the meeting was held and conducted. Venson Moitoi claims there was interference from the party Central Committee.
Efforts to speak to the lawyer and BDP Secretary General hit a snag as their phones rang unanswered.
BDP is still gauging its chances of counteracting Moitoi and her camp following a controversial meeting they held in Serowe, the Meeting of Elders, which the party says was unconstitutional.
The party’s Secretary General, Mpho Balopi last week told this publication that they have launched an investigation into the meeting and will act accordingly against the transgressors. The Moitoi camp has dismissed the threats as utter rubbish.
It is unclear whether the party will impose disciplinary penalties against its members who attended the meeting and its conveners. The meetings was attended by among others former president Ian Khama and Guma Moyo of Tati East who dismissed President Masisi as inexperienced and called on former President Khama to return from retirement.
Sources say the battle for the presidency is at its height in the Serowe area where Khama and Moitoi come from. The duo is of the view that the Masisi camp has penetrated them through intimidating their people and supporters. The Central Region is made up of Serowe North, Serowe South, Serowe West as well as the two Boteti constituencies; Boteti West and Boteti East.