Embattled Botswana Patriotic Front President, Biggie Butale, is launching another legal battle against five of the members of his party and wants them jailed for contempt of court.
In his latest court documents, Butale wants Lawrence Ookeditse, Tshekedi Khama, Barulaganye Letang, Dr Kolaatamo Malefho, and party vice president Mephato Reatile jailed.
He says the respondents have ignored a court order of 26 April 2023 by judge Matlhogonolo Phuthego, which set aside his expulsion from the party.
“Just six weeks or so from the order, being 5th June 2023 an NEC meeting was convened by the 4th Respondent Dr Malefho in which he purported to chair the meeting in my absence. I did not call the meeting nor did I authorize for it to take place. This meeting was called regardless of Judge Phuthego’s order that no meeting be held without my involvement. The matter is presently pending before honourable judge Motlhabi and his judgment was reserved for 27th of September 2023. In the interim, the honourable judge Motlhabi has reinstated and recognized my authority as president of the party”.
Butale says this marks the second occasion where his BPF rivals have ignored a court order.
In his latest court papers Butale says on the 9th July 2023 Ookeditse issued a media statement purporting that he (Butale) has been suspended, even though he was not authorized to do so.
“I was extremely infuriated by this act, and the point at which it has blatant disregard of the BPF constitution as well as the order of the court issued by Honourable Judge Motlhabi. Nonetheless, on the same day I centered myself, and proceeded to note the problematic individuals within the executive structure and thus proceeded to execute emergency suspensions against them pending confirmation by the congress,” he says in the papers.
Furthermore, Butale describes the five as lawless and having disregard to the court order and authority.
“The court order of Honourable Judge Phuthego was extensive and was meant to be the end of the dispute. It chartered a clear path to be obliged to and not defeated through technicality or circumvention,” reads the court papers.
Once again he is approaching the court on a certificate of urgency saying among other things that removing him while there are pending court proceedings before Justice Motlhabi is meant to render the orders irrelevant and this cannot be ignored.
