Retired Brigadier Mbakiso Mukokomani, who recently lost the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections for the Tati West Constituency, has been suspended from the party for 60days with immediate effect.
In a letter signed by the Botswana Democratic Party President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi dated 2nd October 2024, reads “I have received reports of your alleged misconduct regarding threatening to ensure that the Party does not field a parliamentary Candidate on the 4th October 2024. In exercise of the powers conferred on me by article 34.1.6 and having determined that this is one of the exceptional circumstances in which I should exercise those powers, I hereby suspend you with immediate effect as a member of the Party for a period of 60 days pending investigation into the above allegations and/or disciplinary action in light of the reports made regarding your conduct.”
Mukokomani, through his lawyer, Esiah Letlole of Letlole Makgane Attorneys, wrote to the Party Secretary General, Kavis Kario noting his dissatisfaction on the decision by the Central Committee, therefore threatening to take legal action against his own party seeking to prevent the submission of the constituency’s parliamentary candidate to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which is scheduled for tomorrow (4th October 2024.)
Mukokomani lost to the incumbent Member of Parliament, Simon Mavange, in the primary elections held on July 20, 2024. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Mukokomani lodged an appeal with the BDP’s Regional Committee, citing various irregularities in the election process. After reviewing his petition, the Regional Committee upheld his appeal and recommended a re-run of the primary elections.
However, despite the Regional Committee’s recommendation, the BDP’s Central Committee dismissed Mukokomani’s appeal. The former brigadier had the intent to challenge this decision in court, arguing that the Central Committee acted contrary to the Regional Committee’s findings, which he later withdrew.
According to a letter by the North East Regional Chairperson, Jabulane Vuke, the complainant requested for recounting of Botalaote ballot box which was not counted as it was nowhere to be found, as well as the Masunga/Vukwi ballot box which was 1500 but upon arrival at the voting place, 500 ballots were missing. Furthermore, in some instances the opponent was issued with the voters roll while observers for Mukokomani were not issued with the same not knowing what criteria was utilised.
“After all the irregularities stated by Mukokomani in his letter and the witness as the regional committee, considering all those facts and we referred the facts to the accounting process of the BDP Constitution on the regulations. After carefully considering irregularities and anomalies which occurred during the whole process of the election at Tati West constituency in which Mukokomani, Moabi and Mmolawa were competing for the post of the parliamentary candidature, we found it fit to recommend a re-run,” reads the regional committee recommendation letter to the Central Committee.
After consideration by the BDP Electoral Board, Mukokomani was only granted a recount of Botalaote polling station box on the 11th September where he won with 81 votes to Mavange with 63 votes. This still left Mavange leading the constituency overall with 2001 to Mukokomani’s 1941.
According to the letter of demand from Mukokomani’s Attorneys, addressed to Kario, “the purpose of this letter is to request you to reconsider your decision which may dent the party’s prospects in the upcoming general elections. We are instructed, in this regard to file an urgent court application to interdict submission of the names of the parliamentary candidate for Tati West constituency which is scheduled for the 24th September 2024 pending a review of the decision of the Central Committee.”
It further stated that, “you will appreciate that legal process takes a long time to be concluded and the review application will be finally determined after elections, by which either time, the proceedings will be moot.”
But most importantly, the letter noted, “there would have been an interdict restraining the submission of a candidate for the constituency, and the party would not have a candidate for the national elections. Our instructions are to demand that you respond hereto not later than Monday, 9th instant by 1600hrs, failing which we shall proceed to court for appropriate reliefs.”
