BCP elective congress tomorrow
Team Lucas looks set for a sweepstake Untouchable Saleshando unopposed
Botswana Congress Party is set to surpass its standards becoming the first political party to conduct its elective national congress virtually come Saturday.
The congress comes at a time when commentators are calling on all political parties that had postponed their elective congress to comply with COVID– 19 protocols to take advantage of the technology and stop denying their members the democratic right of choosing their leaders.
The party has nine members of the Executive of which two are Ex Officio. The congress has attracted an electoral college of 1567 delegates coming from the 48 of the 57 constituencies that have registered.
So far, two candidates, Dumelang Saleshando and Professor Mpho Pheko are unopposed as President and Information and Publicity Secretary respectively but wait to be confirmed by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee Professor Owen Pansiri.
However, the decision to let Saleshando go unchallenged has been heavily criticised in some quarters. Some political commentators have questioned the party’s democracy asking if the BCP wants to make Saleshando a Deity. However, the BCP’s response is that they have an innerparty democracy and for now they still regard Saleshando as the right person to lead them.
Missing but not lost on the election list is the publicist and Member of Parliament for Selibe Phikwe East, Ditlhapelo Keorapetse. In an interview with this publication, Keorapetse said, “I have been in the party Politburo for nearly 10 years. It is a demanding job that needs utmost attention.
“Apart from having a young family, I am a PhD student and I am doing a professional programme with the University of London. I am also back to academic publishing and all these need time.
“I will prioritise the constituency and this professional development initiatives and family for now. So, I am asking for a few years leave from demanding party positions even though I will be available for shortterm or less demanding party and coalition assignments. It’s a dream deferred for me. I will come back better and stronger”.
The election has attracted two opposing sides and a candidate for the SecretaryGeneral in long- time party activist, Morwadi Morwadi. The campaign sides dubbed Team Lucas after Member of Parliament for Bobonong Taolo Lucas and, Team Daisy after a lady activist and former president of the Women’s League, and 2014 parliamentary candidate in Boteti East, Daisy Bathusi both of who are contesting for the Vice Presidency.
Chairman Steve Makhura- Malololwane, long time party activist Moncho Moncho
for Secretary- General, Refhilwe Aphiri for Deputy SG and Samuel Mphoyakgosi for Treasurer.
Team Lucas is composed of Lucas himself, Samuel Omphithise Rantuana ( chairman), Goretetse Kekgonegile ( SG), Tebogo Hilda Molefe ( DSG) and Kealeboga Oral Mosedame ( Treasurer).
Although on paper, the teams look balanced and the scales can tilt either way, political commentators and sources within the BCP tip Team Lucas to win convincingly if not a sweepstake.
They say the name Lucas is synonymous with the BCP – a decorated scholar holding a Masters Degree in Social Work. They say Lucas is a leader par excellence and a grassroots politician who is committed to the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden.
Lucas is a founding member of the BCP. He has served the party in numerous portfolios, chief among them being Secretary- General and Publicity Secretary. He has been a loyal servant of the BCP and has been one of its de facto leaders owing to his affable disposition and easy- going charm, which has earned him fame among the BCP’s rank and file.
He commands respect. A model politician who has redefined political perseverance having endured two decades of electoral setbacks before successfully kicking out the Botswana Democratic Party in the Bobirwa territory.
While Bathusi who served the party with diligence and a leader of repute is currently an activist, he appears to be dwarfed by the giant Kekgonegile.
Morwadi has a mountain to climb before he can attract a single vote. An activist and founding member, Morwadi disappeared from the radar at some stage only to resurface now through a ticket from Serowe constituencies from where he comes.
For the chairmanship, the RantuanaMakhura warfare is interesting. Both command great respect on the ground. Makhura is Councillor in Mochudi and command respect with grassroots politics and fears no one when buttressing a point.
However he is disadvantaged as his challenger Rantuana, is a qualified engineer, leader and veteran BCP cadre with almost two decades of activism and dedication to the BCP cause. He has served the BCP on many platforms including as Constituency Chairman of Ramotswa.
Rantuana is a grassroots politician with a passive- aggressive demeanour. With the BCP searching for a leader at Ramotswa, he emerged among his peers to lead the party as a parliamentary candidate and delivered the BCP its maiden victory at Ga Malete territory bringing an end to BDP’s four- decade electoral hegemony.
He brings experience, controlled aggression and probity among his many virtues to a chairmanship role that is critical to the
BCP’s relevance and growth in the current unforgiving political atmosphere.
Another tough battle is expected for the SG position between Moncho and Kekgonegile. The latter is described as a cut above the rest. After his impressive performance in the 2014 polls, narrowly losing what was once a BDP fortress of Maun East, he showed his indefatigable spirit by returning stronger in 2019 to wrestle the constituency.
Insiders say KK or Cut is the perfect fit for the BCP Chief Administrator position having served successfully in that role in an acting capacity where the giant labour movement held its maiden, one member one vote Executive Committee elections.
At a time when the BCP is facing internal and external challenges, the party needs the experience, radicalism and political alacrity of ‘ Cut’ at the heart of its operations.
However, he must not underestimate Moncho who is not only a long time activist but loyal to the party and is prepared to do anything for the party having contested the general election in 2004 and 2009 as a candidate for Gaborone North and Mahalapye West respectively.
For the DSG position, it is an all- ladies affair, with Team Lucas having an advantage through former youth president Tebogo Hilda Molefe who faces another brilliant young mind in Refhilwe Aphiri who is the current Gaborone regional chairperson.
Molefhe has an edge because she has served in almost all BCP structures since joining in 2003, from constituency to youth league where she served as Treasurer before making history by becoming the first female to head the structure in Botswana.
As the BCP grew in relevance and numerical strength she matured politically, developing admirable political acumen and shrewdness. Her political shrewdness was on full display when she led the BCP to its first- ever parliamentary victory at Ramotswa as the campaign manager bringing to an end the BDP hegemony at Ga Malete territory.
The treasurer position shows that the party has depth and is spoilt for choice. It is said for a party to successfully operate, money is an exigency. A Treasurer- General is one of the most critical portfolios in the NEC as it directly deals with the financial health of the organisation.
Both candidates are politically savvy, experienced and financially knowledgeable to lead the BCP’s Treasury office. The party purse will be overseen by either Councillor Mphoyakgosi or Mosedame.
The latter enjoys an added advantage of the team he belongs to. Mosedame possesses not only the requisite qualification, but he is also a financial guru endowed with skill, experience and knowledge to operate successful financial machinery. He is one of the founding members of the BCP.