Parties head for elective congresses
Conflict management comes under spotlight
As three political parties head for elective congresses before the end of this year, the reality of intra- party schisms and the parties’ ability to manage inner party divisions cannot be overlooked.
These parties are Botswana National Front ( BNF), Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) and Botswana Peoples’ Party ( BPP).
The splits that have been experienced by the BPP, BNF and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) and the Botswana Movement for Democracy ( BMD) are an indication that the parties do not have institutionalised conflict management structures to provide pre- election and post- election counselling as well as regulate all internal party contestations let alone re- orientate the political actors at cell, ward, constituency and national levels so that, the political actors may, in their politicking, employ decorum and civility ahead of selfishness and a sense of entitlement to win at all costs. President of the Botswana Peoples’ Party ( BPP), Motlatsi Molapisi, admitted that his party does not have conflict management structures.
“They are crucial but we do not have them at the moment. We are looking into constituting them,” said Molapisi whose party is going to a congress later this year. Molapisi said if the party leadership fails to constitute a substantive conflict resolution structure before the congress, the leadership will put in place an ad hoc structure in aid of the congress.
“Political contests are conflictual by nature hence the need for conflict resolution structures,” said Molapisi who promises a free and fair contest.
“It is unfortunate that in some instances, people complain just because they cannot handle a loss. Some even quit the party after losing. While everybody has got the right to complain or appeal an election result, it is up to the aggrieved to bring evidence of whatever irregularities they claim to have happened,” said the veteran opposition leader.
Molapisi believes that members should, at all times, demonstrate loyalty to the organisation.
Meanwhile, while confident that, ‘’ nothing will happen’’ at the BCP Congress, the secretary general, Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang admitted that conflict management structures are not robust enough at the BCP.
“They are inadequate but we intend to revisit our systems and processes and make sure they are tight enough and clear to the contestant,” said the BCP official.
The BCP leader pledged a free and fair election because, as he says, transparency is a critical item in ensuring that the contest is credible.
“The process itself is going to be transparent. Over and above that, we have the party constitution and other party documents to rely on regarding the running of the congress, in particular, the management of the party election,” said Dr. Gobotswang.
Asked whether the party has got no fears that the congress may turn violent, especially considering the ongoing tensions between the two lobby groups, one led by the party president Advocate Duma Boko and the other by Dr. Prince Dibeela, the publicity secretary of the BNF, Justin Hunyepa responded:
“Those who bring stories of violence to BNF congress are the so called analysts and BDP propagandists. Some are sent to promote such sick stories of violence. “The BNF is united and stories of violence should be searched elsewhere, probably the BDP that broke up twice in the last two elections. So check for violent congresses elsewhere”.
According to the BNF official, the party has several official documents that promote conflict management and resolutions.
“These include the BNF Constitution; Code of Discipline and Procedures; Introduction to Party Organisation, and others. There are also party documents that deal directly with elections including rules and regulations relating to the selection of parliamentary and local government candidates; Guidelines for Ward, Constituency, Regional and Auxiliary Organs Congresses,” wrote Hunyepa in response to a written enquiry.
Hunyepa also stated that, pre and post counselling are issues that have been long agreed by delegates in previous congresses, using the above documents and any other conciliatory approaches and skills. “The challenge is of some dysfunctional structures that have made this noble act of counselling a challenge. The National Organising Secretary and the Secretary General are already on the field checking on the status of the structures,” concluded Hunyepa.