04 Jul 2022

Botswana National Front (BNF) will have to wait for Gaborone High Court to weigh into its national elective congress scheduled for July 16-19.

This followed the decision by the party members Mr Kgakgamatso Kebiditswe and Mr Tlamelo Mpodi to approach the High Court on certificate of urgency seeking to interdict the upcoming congress.

The application opposed by BNF, which is represented by Advocate Duma Boko who is also the party president, has subsequently been set for hearing Thursday.

 In the papers filed before Justice Gabriel Komboni, the two applicants, represented by Advocate Setso Mokoti, contended that they were bona fide party members and were likely to suffer irreversible harm should the congress continue.

 As such, the applicants said they were entitled to be granted interim relief to postpone the upcoming congress.

The applicants accused the party for manipulating memberships in some branches and enabled such to be delegates at the national congress.

 Also, they accused the central committee for denying members an opportunity to question the voters registration findings, which violated the party constitution.  Among the relief sought by the applicants is that the court should set aside the decision of the BNF central committee pertaining to the holding of the congress.

Furthermore, the court should direct that the party, through the central committee, appoint a joint credentials committee to ensure free and fair elections as well as appoint an independent and impartial elections body as an interim measure to lead in the running of the congress.

The applicants also wanted the court to order that a voters roll, accessible to all members of the BNF through their party structures, be published.

They want the court to ensure that registration of new membership is allowed and renewal of existing membership not to be interrupted ahead of the congress.

 However, the BNF is opposing the application stating that the central committee duly exercised its powers and authority in terms of the party constitution and the relevant regulations to convene scheduled national congress. ENDS