BMD warns UDC on Motswaledi
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The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) Working Committee has expressed displeasure at the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s handling of the Gomolemo Motswaledi commemoration event. Motswaledi was the BMD president and also Secretary General of the UDC.
At its meeting held on Wednesday this week, the BMD working committee composed of nine portfolio holders indicated that the UDC has taken over Motswaledi’s commemorations and has not bothered to engage the BMD, which was the late’s political home when he met his demise.
“We have only received an invitation letter to the Gomolemo Motswaledi commemorations. We have not been part of the process of planning for the commemorations. Yes it is true that the National Working Committee met and deliberated on a few topics which were dealt with expeditiously by the portfolio holders,” said the BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole who is also a Member of Parliament for Mochudi West.
According to Mangole the BMD will attend the Commemorations as per the invitation from the UDC but will immediately after the commemorations express their misgivings to the UDC leadership about the handling of the matter. “We cannot learn of this event about our former President through an invitation letter, we should have been involved more, consulted for that matter,” said Mangole.
The BMD secretary general stated that Motswaledi was secretary general of the UDC by virtue of being President of the BMD, “therefore MK Motswaledi was BMD first before being UDC. We feel that this is disrespect of the organisation that Motswaledi founded, and we will humbly request that in future these matters be dealt with according to processes that can agreed to be courteous,” he said.
Mangole said they do not even know who is organising the event and what the program of the commemoration entails. “We are aware that we shared Motswaledi with the UDC but it is important that his true political home is not overlooked when anything that has to do with his name is organised,” said Mangole.
The UDC is organising commemorations that will focus on celebrating and remembering Gomolemo Motswaledi’s life. Motswaledi was a political giant killed by a car accident after forming the BMD along with others from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who were either expelled from party or defecting in support of the BMD founding principles. Motswaledi was suspended by BDP leader, President Lt Gen Ian Khama, a decision that scuppered his ambition of contesting the Gaborone Central Parliamentary seat under the ruling party and chose to join the splinter BMD.
Asked about the composition of the Working Committee of the BMD, Mangole indicated that it is made up of nine members who are portfolio holders in the party. He said it must be noted that the President, Ndaba Gaolathe and his deputy, Wynter Mmolotsi did not attend the working committee meeting held on Tuesday.
It is on record that Gaolathe and Mmolotsi are working parallel to some of the National Executive Committee members especially the secretary general and the party chairman, Nehemiah Modubule. The two camps are split on whether the party should call a special congress or not. A deliberation on the need for a Special Congress arose after the majority of the NEC voted to include Advocate Sydney Pilane in the list of BMD negotiators at the anticipated UDC talks which will include the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) this time around. Gaolathe, Mmolotsi and a small section of the NEC is against Pilane being granted full membership of the party and have called into question the ability of the current NEC to run the affairs of the party.
Meanwhile Mangole told this publication that the Working Committee on Tuesday also noted 19 letters received from various constituencies requesting for a Special Congress. He said the letters were only noted and the final decision rests with the National Executive Committee which will meet on the 13th of August 2016. Gaolathe’s camp is confident that it has secured enough numbers to push for a Special Congress which is expected to change the composition of the current NEC by way of voting for new leaders. On the other hand Mangole and Modubule’s camp is against the special congress and had asked for reconciliation as they argue that a special congress is not the solution to BMD problems.
Sharing his observations, a political commentator, Dr Wazha Morapedi said the Motswaledi Commemorations and the perceived side-lining of some in the BMD is a further demonstration of the magnitude of the conflict within the BMD. He said it is clear that Gaolathe and Mmolotsi could be privy to the planning and organisation of the Motswaledi Commemoration while the majority of the BMD NEC is in the dark.
Morapedi said it is important for BMD to solve their differences because they have a potential to derail the UDC agenda. He observed that the BMD should not make a big deal over the invitation and rather focus on broad policy issues that could craft their path as a political organisation. “The problem with our politics is that our politicians fight over small and sometimes irrelevant issues,” he said.
Contacted for comment, the UDC Spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa indicated that all the UDC partners have been invited to the Motswaledi Commemoration. Answering to the accusation from the BMD that they were not involved in the planning, Mohwasa indicated that the BMD was involved through its leader Gaolathe who is also the secretary general of the UDC. Mohwasa observed that Motswaledi was a leader within the UDC and all partners should embrace any activity planned in his remembrance. He further said they have not yet received any formal complaint from the BMD in regard to the commemorations. He was optimistic that they will have a successful event and indicated that a number of speakers have been lined up to celebrate the icon’s life.
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The curtain came down at the PAP session with pomp and FUNFAIR
It was pomp and funfair at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on March 18 as the African Cultural Music and Dance Association (ACUMDA) brought the curtains down on the PAP session with a musical performance.
The occasion was the celebration of the Pan-African Parliament Day (PAP Day) which commemorated the inauguration of the first Parliament of the PAP on 18 March 2004 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The celebrations took place at the seat of the Parliament in Midrand to “reflect on the journey” as the institution turns 19. The event sought to retrace the origin and context of the establishment of the PAP.
The celebrations included musical performances by ACUMDA and a presentation by Prof. Motshekga Mathole of the Kara Heritage Institute on “Whither Pan-Africanism, African Culture, and Heritage.”
The PAP Day was officially launched in 2021 to educate citizens about the Continental Parliament and ignite conversations about its future in line with its mandate.
The establishment of the PAP among the AU organs signalled a historical milestone and the most important development in the strengthening of the AU institutional architecture. It laid solid groundwork for democratic governance and oversight within the African Union system and provided a formal “platform for the peoples of Africa to get involved in discussions and decision-making on issues affecting the continent.”
The genesis of the PAP can be legally traced back to 1991 with the adoption of the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, adopted on June 3, 1991, in Abuja (also known as the Abuja Treaty). This treaty defined the pillars and grounds for realizing economic development and integration in Africa and called for the creation of a continental parliament, among a set of other organs, as tools for the realization of African integration and economic development. This call was reemphasized in the Sirte Declaration of 1999, which called for the accelerated implementation of the provisions of the Abuja Treaty.
PAP celebrated its ten years of existence in March 2014, a year which coincided with the adoption, on June 27, 2014, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, of the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP Malabo Protocol), which, once in force, will transform the PAP into a legislative body of the AU. It requires a minimum of 28 countries to ratify it before it comes into force.
Therefore, the commemoration of PAP Day serves as a reminder to the decision-makers around the continent to fulfil their commitment to the PAP by ratifying its Protocol, 19 years after sanctioning its establishment. 14 AU member states have so far ratified the Malabo Protocol.
The celebrations of PAP Day coincided with the closing ceremony of the sitting of the PAP Permanent Committees and other organs. The Sitting took place in Midrand, South Africa under the AU theme for 2023, “Accelerating the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)” from 6 to 17 March 2023.
PAP President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, expressed appreciation to members for their commitment during the two-week engagement.
“We have come to the end of our program, and it is appropriate that we end on a high note with the PAP Day celebrations.
“We will, upon your return to your respective countries, ensure that the work achieved over the past two weeks is transmitted to the national level for the benefit of our citizens,” concluded H.E. Chief Charumbira.
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PAP needs to priorities land issues-Prof Mathole
Prof Motshekga Mathole of the Kara Heritage Institute has advised the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to prioritise the land issue in the continent if they are to remain relevant.
He said this while addressing the Plenary during the commemoration of PAP Day held at the PAP Chambers in Midrand, South Africa
The PAP Day was officially launched in 2021 to commemorate the inauguration of the first Parliament on 18 March 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Intended as a platform for people of all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on problems and challenges facing the continent.
In a speech titled “Whither Pan-Africanism, African Culture, and Heritage,” Prof Mathole stated that for PAP to remain relevant, it must address the continent’s key land dilemma, which he feels is the core cause of all problems plaguing the continent
“If this Parliament is to be taken seriously, ownership of land and natural resources must be prioritized at the national and continental levels. Africans are not poor; they are impoverished by imperialist nations that continue to hold African land and natural resources,” said Prof Mathole.
“When African leaders took power from colonialists, they had to cope with poverty, unemployment, and other issues, but they ignored land issues. That is why Africa as a whole is poor today. Because our land and minerals are still in the hands of colonizers, Africa must rely on Ukraine for food and Europe for medical.”
Prof Mathole believes that the organization of the masses is critical as cultural revolution is the only solution to Africa’s most problems.
“We need a cultural revolution for Africa, and that revolution can only occur if the masses and people are organized. First, we need a council of African monarchs since they are the keepers of African arts, culture, and heritage. We need an African traditional health practitioners council because there is no ailment on the planet that cannot be healed by Africans; the only problem is that Africans do not harvest and process their own herbs,” he said.
Meanwhile, PAP President, H.E. Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira expressed satisfaction with the commitment displayed throughout the two-week period and said the PAP Day celebrations were befitting curtains down to the august event.
“On this high note of our two-week engagement, it is appropriate that we close our program on a high note with PAP celebrations, and I would like to thank everyone for your commitment, and please continue to be committed,” said H.E Hon Chief Charumbira.
PAP’s purpose as set out in Article 17 of the African Union Constitutive Act, is “to ensure the full participation of African people in the development and economic integration of the continent”. As it stands, the mandate of the Parliament extends to consultation and playing an advisory and oversight role for all AU organs pending the ratification protocol.
Also known as the Malabo Protocol, the Protocol to the consultative act of the AU relating to the PAP was adopted at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government summit in June 2014 and is intended to extend the powers of the PAP into a fully-fledged legislative organ. It requires a minimum of 28 countries to ratify it before it comes into force.
The commemoration of the PAP Day, therefore, serves as a reminder to the decision-makers around the continent to fulfil their commitment to the PAP by ratifying its Protocol, 17 years after sanctioning its establishment. 14 AU member states have so far ratified the Malabo Protocol.
The PAP Day commemoration also aims to educate citizens about the PAP and ignite conversations about the future of the continental Parliament in line with its mandate.
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DPP drops Kably threat to kill case
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Letlhakeng/Lephephe Liakat Kably has welcomed the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s decision not to prosecute BDP councillor, Meshack Tshenyego who allegedly threatened to kill him. However, the legislator has warned that should anything happen to his life, the state and the courts will have to account.
In an interview with this publication, Kablay said he has heard that the DPP has declined to prosecute Tshenyego in a case in which he threatened to kill him adding that the reasons he received are that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. “I am fine and at peace with the decision not to prosecute over evidential deficits but I must warn that should anything happen to my life both the DPP and the Magistrate will have to account,” Kablay said.
Connectedly, Kably said he has made peace with Tshenyego, “we have made peace and he even called me where upon we agreed to work for the party and bury the hatchet”.
The DPP reportedly entered into a Nolle Prosequi in the matter, meaning that no action would be taken against the former Letlhakeng Sub-district council chairperson and currently councillor for Matshwabisi.
According to the charge sheet before the Court, councilor Tshenyego on July 8th, 2022 allegedly threatened MP Kably by indirectly uttering the following words to nominatedcouncilor Anderson Molebogi Mathibe, “Mosadi wa ga Liakat le ban aba gagwe ba tsile go lela, Mosadi wame le banake le bone ba tsile go lela. E tla re re mo meeting, ka re tsena meeting mmogo, ke tla mo tlolela a bo ke mmolaya.”
Loosely translated this means, Liakat’s wife and children are going to shed tears and my wife and kids will shed tears too. I will jump on him and kill him during a meeting.
Mathibe is said to have recorded the meeting and forwarded it to Kably who reported the matter to the police.
In a notice to the Magistrate Court to have the case against Tshenyego, acting director of Public Prosecutions, Wesson Manchwe cited the nolle prosequi by the director of public prosecution in terms of section 51 A (30) of the Constitution and section 10 of the criminal procedure and evidence act (CAP 08:02) laws of Botswana as reasons for dropping the charges.
A nolle prosequi is a formal notice of abandonment by a plaintiff or prosecutor of all or part of a suit or action.
“In pursuance of my powers under section 51 A (300 of the Constitution and section 10 of the criminal procedure and evidence act (CAP 08:02) laws of Botswana, I do hereby stop and discontinue criminal proceedings against the accused Meshack Tshenyego in the Kweneng Administrative District, CR.No.1077/07/2022 being the case of the State vs Tshenyego,” said Manchwe. The acting director had drafted the notice dropping the charges on 13th day of March 2023.
The case then resumed before the Molepolole Magistrate Solomon Setshedi on the 14th of March 2023. The Magistrate issued an order directing “that matters be withdrawn with prejudice to the State, accused is acquitted and discharged.”