BNP members sue party

Staff Reporter

MASERU – Seven members of the Basotho National Party (BNP) have petitioned the High Court to stop the party from holding an Annual General Conference (AGC) next week.

They contend the AGC if it goes ahead would be in breach of the party’s  constitution.
Disgruntled members mainly from Qacha’s Nek, want the party and its National Executive Committee (NEC) and other 36 respondents to justify holding of the AGC on 12 July, 2019. The applicants also want the respondents to defend the legality of the AGC and why it should not be set aside.

The applicants further want the respondents to justify why the party’s circular No. 3 of 2019 should not be nullified and why nomination of candidates to constituency committees in  Qacha’s Nek, Qoaling, Qhalasi and Mafeteng cannot be set aside.In his founding affidavit, Odilon Cekwane of Qacha’s Nek argues the applicants have a right in law to sue their party.

Cekwane explains that on 28 December, 2018 the party’s NEC arranged an AGC slated in for between 29-31 March, 2019 in Mafeteng district.

But on 28 January, 2019, the NEC postponed the AGC indefinitely but did not announce new dates.On 7 March, 2019, Cekwane explains the NEC published a circular announcing an AGC for 12-14 July, 2019.

Cekwane is however miffed that Qacha’s Nek members were ambushed, as a meeting convened to prepare for leader Thesire ‘Maseribane’s visit was turned into an electoral college to appoint nominees to the AGC without prior warning. The applicants are represented by Advocate Letuka Molati.

– LENA