Gaborone — The war in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) heightened on Tuesday when President Ian Khama suspended a senior official.

Youthful party secretary general, Mr. Gomolemo Motswaledi has become the first casualty in the jostle for power between President Khama and his allies in the A-Team or Nkate-Merafhe faction and the previously marginalised but now resurgent Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction or Barataphathi (those who love the party).

President Khama suspended Mr Motswaledi for 60 days amid reports that he has also recalled him as the parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central.

The BDP constitution grants powers to the party president to suspend a misbehaving member for up to 60 days pending a disciplinary hearing. Mr Motswaledi recently slammed a law firm for releasing a press statement exonerating President Khama from charges that he has been acting unilaterally in the running of BDP affairs. When taking on Collins and Newman law firm, Mr Motswaledi received public backing from party officials allied to his faction.

There are indications that President Khama is likely to crack the whip again to punish the Barataphathi faction. It is understood that on Monday, ministers at a cabinet meeting urged President Khama to expel Mr Motswaledi from the party with his allies like deputy secretary general Wynter Mmolotsi, Kabo Morwaeng and Leach Tlhomelang.

The Kwelagobe-Kedikilwe faction humiliated President Khama last month when its members defied him and made a clean sweep in the BDP elections. Ahead of the elections, President Khama had hatched a plan to promote the cause of the women in the BDP and bar factional leaders from contesting party positions.

The Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction annoyed President Khama by refusing to play ball and rubbed salt to injury by winning all the seats up for grabs in the BDP elections. After the elections, President Khama has sought to regain the initiative by using his powers in the party to by-pass the central committee that is controlled by the faction.