BNF holds Primary Elections before March 31
Party passes Resolution to protect women candidates Leadership Consultative Forum to discuss Coalition politics
The Botswana National Front (BNF) Central Committee has made a resolution that protects incumbent women Councillors who won byelections from contesting the party primary elections that are scheduled for any time before 31st March.
BNF Secretary General, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa told the media that under this dispensation wards that were won by women in 2019 will also not be opened for general primary elections, but will be contested exclusively by women, especially the youth.
He said this is being done in order to protect the numbers of women candidates in the general election.
Meanwhile, Motshegwa indicated that BNF will host a Leadership Consultative Forum on February 10 to engage both leadership and members in understanding the party’s role in coalition politics and the mandates bestowed upon the UDC and its affiliates.
Motshegwa stated that the forum would be a comprehensive gathering, welcoming the central committee, youth league, members of parliament and regional chairpersons of the party.
He said that with 2024 being an election year, the forum holds a particular significance as it gives the leadership an opportunity to assess their preparedness for the upcoming elections, as well as strategise on how to win.
The forum will also serve as an orientation on the campaign blueprint outlined by the UDC.
At 26, the BNF holds the majority of constituencies allocated to it by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). However, there are reports that other contracting parties are not happy with the allocations.
In the UDC allocations, the Alliance for Progressives (AP) will field candidates in 11 constituencies, Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) will get 14 constituencies, Botswana People’s Party (BPP), five, while four constituencies have been reserved for the UDC, an arrangement meant to cater for the UDC parliamentary candidates who defected from the BCP and were given free passage to representing the party.
Motshegwa said they will embark on a tour of all constituencies allocated to the party to revitalise the support base. He said the tour will plead for calmness, unity, peace and good working relations with other parties under the UDC.
He noted that the central committee realised that a coalition is a complex arrangement which should strive at all costs when negotiating for constituencies to ensure no partner is happy at the expense of the misery of others.