No longer a laughing stock!
BPP upbeat about recruitment drive
Botswana People’s Party (BPP) - the political laughing stock of the country has suddenly found something to wax lyrical about.
In just a short span of time, the “moribund’’ oldest political party in the country has attracted three high-profile cadres from opposition parties notably Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The BPP, BCP and Botswana National Front (BNF) are coalition partners looking to dethrone the BDP in the next general elections.
The ‘deluge’ of recruits includes a Member of Parliament from the BDP, Ignatius Moswaane.
Does this indicate a resurrection of the party or is it the last kicks of a dying horse? Outgoing party leader, Motlatsi Molapisi thinks the future is bright for his party.
“This development is not accidental. It is the result of our rebranding and recruitment efforts.
There will be no relenting in our mobilisation exercise because as a cooperation partner in the opposition talks, it is the numbers that will determine what we get in terms of wards and constituencies at the negotiating table.
“It is the numbers that give every party a position of strength in any coalition arrangement”, Molapisi said.
Molapisi does not share the concern by some that, the new recruits may actually be spies or opportunists who intend to benefit from the fact that the BPP has got a serious shortage of quality personnel to be deployed in the wards and constituencies allocated to them by the coalition.
“We have our own internal screening process which will expose and immediately depose spies”, explained Molapisi, who is not worried that the growing number of potential presidential candidates at the next party congress may divide the party.
“More candidates for the party presidency will help revive the party even more because each of the candidates will recruit voters to see him or her through.
“The party needs to have structures that ensure that even as they compete, the candidates remain disciplined.
We are a peace-loving organisation hence will not nurture indiscipline by bad losers. We will ensure that the campaign for the leadership of the party is clean”, Molapisi said.
A new recruit, Professor Philip Bulawa, envisages more BPP Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors at the 2024 general election due to what he says is a positive response by people to the BPP.
“More and more people are developing interest in the BPP. We intend to intensify the recruitment drive, as well as build functional structures throughout the country”, said Prof Bulawa who like Molapisi would like a peaceful internal contest.
Prof Bulawa, who is also the acting secretary general of the party, said there is nothing wrong with having as many contenders as possible, as long as there is transparency in the electoral process.
The University of Botswana (UB) lecturer says his foremost goal is to help BPP garner unprecedented levels of success in its recruitment drive.