Oliver Modise
3 July 2009
In an unprecedented move, the National Amalgamated Local and Central Government Parastatal Workers' Union (NALCGPWU), that is led by Johnson Motshwarakgole a cousin to Daniel Kwelagobe, has endorsed the BDP strongman and his faction in the current factional war within the party.
Through a statement released yesterday the union has urged its members, who belong to the ruling BDP, to support those that press for the party's constitution, a position adopted by Kwelagobe and the Kedikilwe/Kwelagobe faction.
The union says it has been watching with interest developments within the ruling party and it is altogether opposed to Khama's idea of imposing the party's leadership.
The union states that the upcoming BDP'congress, to be held on in two week's time, is a historic event where the cast of the vote will have far reaching consequences.
According to the Union the BDP congress is an opportune time for delegates to put 'the country back on track' by making the appropriate choice. The union says that while it wishes BDP members a happy congress it cannot over emphasize the need for members to reflect on their choices for the party leadership.
"The delegates will be required to choose between observance of their constitution or permitting its flagrant disobedience for political convenience," the statement reads in part.
"The choice is between: good and evil; freedom and oppression; nepotism and equal opportunity for all; dictatorship
and democracy; automatic succession and one man one vote; military rule and civilian rule," states the union.
The union which boasts of close to 32, 000 members says that those who violate party constitutions cannot be expected to observe the country's constitution.
"The NALCGPWU firmly believes in the rule of law and that observance of constitutionalism starts at home," it states.
"The NALCGPWU urges those delegates, who are its members, not to make any choices that may be interpreted as endorsing the violation of party constitutions," the Union cautions.
However this move has created curiosity as the union's National Organising secretary Johnson Motshwarakgole is a close relative of Kwelagobe.The union has also been mum on several issues affecting workers plight only to make a comment in the midst of ongoing BDP factional wars.
In an interview the union's administrative secretary Samuel Molaodi said that he was aware that Motshwarakgole and Kwelagobe were related but argued that the statement was not on behalf Kwelagobe.
"It's a union position to all BDP members", said Molaodi
He said that they could not be held from commenting on issues for fear of being associated with one of the factions. He said that if Kwelagobe's faction was for the party constitution then the union endorsed him and his team.
Contacted for comment Motshwarakgole said that although he was related to Kwelagobe he was not behind the press statement. He said that like every union member he was bound by collective responsibility.
"The position of Manual Worker's union is not mine," he defended himself.
"These are trying times and we as a union are concerned about the state of our democracy", he said.
"We want the constitution to be followed," he added
On why the Union was all of a sudden finding feet to release a press statement when it has been mum on other national issues, Motshwarakgole said that Botswana was undergoing trying times hence the Union's decision to release a statement.
"We are always being criticised for being quiet when things happen," he told Mmegi.
He said that if he was using the union to campaign for Kwelagobe then history would judge him harshly.
The BDP's traditional factions are at each other's throats over the Central Committee positions. While the Kedikilwe/Kwelagobe group intends to contest the elections, the Nkate/Merafhe faction, that has the support of party leader and President Ian Khama, wants women to hold the Central Committee positions.
Kwelagobe, contestant for the position of secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi, contestant for the post of deputy secretary general, Wynter Mmolotsi, and Kabo Morwaeng who wants to be elected an additional member, among others are campaigning for the Central Committee elections claiming to be custodians of the party's constitution.
On the other hand the Nkate/Merafhe faction which was initially opposed to the holding of Central Committee elections backed by President Ian Khama has fielded Tebelelo Seretse to take on Kwelagobe as party chair while minister Lesego Motsumi is campaigning to be the party's secretary general.
KCcommittee positions to be filled up by women activists.
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