Suspended MP Dikoloti Fights Back: Claims BDP Plot to Block His Candidacy
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Former Mmathethe/Molapowabojang Member of Parliament (MP) and current Minister of Health, Dr. Edwin Dikoloti, has accused the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) of attempting to block his political candidacy, citing interference from the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) during the party’s primary elections in the Goodhope/Mmathethe constituency. Dikoloti, who is under suspension from the BDP, claims that the party favored Minister of Finance, Peggy Serame, over him, even though he won the July 2024 primaries.
Dikoloti alleges that the BDP leadership actively sought to disqualify him, setting up “traps” to push him out of the race in favor of Serame. He claims that despite his victory, the BDP central committee chose Serame as the candidate for the upcoming general elections.
According to Dikoloti, the leadership of the BDP consistently favored Serame, attempting to discredit him at various stages. He thanked “sympathetic voices” within the party for helping him avoid political pitfalls. Despite his complaints about interference from the DIS, Dikoloti claims the party leadership disregarded his concerns and advised him to address the issue with the central committee.
He also contends that the party unfairly acted on Serame’s complaints while ignoring his. One such incident involved Serame’s grievance regarding the singing of a gospel hymn by his supporters, which was deemed divisive by the party without further inquiry. Dikoloti argues that this unequal treatment was part of an effort to sideline him.
On Wednesday, Dikoloti filed an urgent legal application seeking to overturn the BDP’s decision from September 18, 2024, which denied a re-run of the party’s primary elections in the Goodhope/Mmathethe constituency. He is also asking the court to prevent the BDP from submitting Serame’s name as the party’s official candidate for the Independent Electoral Commission.
In his legal affidavit, Dikoloti argues that the decision against a re-run was based on unlawful and irrational grounds. He criticizes the central committee for acting in bad faith, accusing them of taking actions against him without just cause. He claims the committee ignored procedural rules, failing to notify him of the decision or give him a chance to present his case. According to Dikoloti, the BDP’s decision was taken without reason and violated the principles of democracy and justice outlined in the party’s constitution.
Dikoloti further states that he had proof that preparations for a re-run, including ballots and transportation for election personnel, were already in place, undermining the central committee’s claims that a re-election was not feasible before the end of September.
In response, the BDP dismissed Dikoloti’s legal challenge, arguing that his suspension from the party by President Mokgweetsi Masisi on September 25, 2024, stripped him of his membership rights. The party maintains that Dikoloti no longer has the standing to pursue his lawsuit, as his suspension renders his claims “moot” and without merit.
As the case unfolds, Dikoloti continues to assert his right to contest the Goodhope/Mmathethe seat, arguing that the BDP’s actions were unlawful and that he has a clear entitlement to be the party’s candidate, as originally determined by the annulled primary elections.
