In one of the weekend papers, Gabriel Kanjabanga makes a
scathing attack on the leadership of the Botswana National Front (BNF) for
suspending some cadres from the party. While I have no doubt that the BNF
leadership may be convinced that they have taken the correct punitive measures
against the cadres, I am inclined to agree with what Kanjabanga says. I am troubled
by the apparent resumption by the BNF, of the draconian rule that characterized
the Moupo era.
As a party of the masses, the BNF should not follow the
example of the Khama “discipline” methodologies. In a party of the masses, there
is a difference between a party member and the party. The nation knows that the
party (BNF) speaks when Duma Boko speaks. The nation knows that the party
speaks when Moeti Mohaswa speaks on behalf of the party. Nobody would be naïve enough
to interpret anything said by Lemogang Ntime as representing the position of
the BNF. So why should the BNF be bothered by what he says, to the extent of
suspending him? By suspending him, the
party lends credence to his accusations, whatever those are. Instead of
suspending him, the party should just ignore him – after all his is a voice of
a member of the BNF, and not the voice of BNF. As for Kagiso Ntime, the article
he wrote against the opposition co-operation talks, which I have not read, may
not have been in order, given that he was a participant ON BEHALF OF BNF at
those talks. The party should therefore have simply stated its correct position
through a statement from Boko, removed Kagiso from participating in the talks
on its behalf, and let Kagiso carry on as an anti-cooperation-talks member of
the BNF. After all there are many members of BNF out there who are anti-talks.
It’s not their fault if the party delegates them to negotiate on its behalf at
a time when they are not yet anti-cooperation talks.
My understanding of party democracy in a mass party is that
the party members are free to express their personal opinions on any political subject,
but that the party itself speaks, and acts LIKE ONE MAN. In other words, apart
from Duma Boko and/or Moeti Mohwasa, (when delegated to issue a statement on
behalf of the party), no member of the party, not even a Central Committee (CC)
member, loses his/her right to express a personal opinion on any political matter.
Of course the party’s detractors will always try to draw maximum
political capital out of these “contradictions”, especially where members of CC
seem to have widely divergent views. However, the voters, and that’s who really
matters, will soon latch on to the fact that the official party position is
that which is expressed by Duma Boko and Moeti Mohwasa and no one else. Those
party members/cadres who genuinely wish to advance the cause of the party will
always want to find out what Boko thinks on any matter before they express
their own views on the subject, be it at a freedom square or in house to house
campaigns. As the 2014 elections draw closer, those party cadres who will have learnt
and imbibed the Political viewpoint of Duma Boko (the leader) will be accorded
credibility by the masses and voters, to the detriment of the habitual
leadership maligners. Thus the party will converge to speak and act LIKE ONE
MAN.
