BDP NYEC’s dirty campaigns
Elections outcome expect to gauge mood for Tsabong National Congress
Campaigns for the Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) National Youth Executive Committee ( NYEC) leadership especially for chairperson have turned nasty ahead of this weekend’s elective congress.
The elective congress will be held in Bobonong starting today ( Friday) where a new leadership is expected to be ushered into office. The youth wing congress is expected to be one of the gauging platforms for the party’s National Elective Congress to be held in Tsabong at the end of this month.
A fierce battle for the NYEC chairperson seat is expected between current NYEC General Secretary Otsile Machona, Tony Sebabi and BDP Communications and International Relations Committee member Kabelo Kgwarae- Mhuriro.
Botswana Guardian has established that in the past two weeks the campaigns have been intense and dirty as the race for the chairmanship of the youth wing intensified. According to sources, in a bid to lure votes there have been accusations and counter accusations by the top three contestants.
Team Kgwarae- Mhuriro is said to be against the voting of Machona and Sebabi arguing that they are above the NYEC cut- off age limit. It is alleged that Machona and Sebabi will be over 35 years after the Bobonong congress.
Machona and Sebabi will be 36 years in September and December this year. This is said to have caused a fierce debate on the matter as the duo has
challenged the legality of the argument.
They say this is just malice peddled to discourage competition and deny young democrats an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote their preferred leadership.
On the other side, Kgwarae- Mhuriro has become a victim of smear campaign on claims that he is using his position in communications to lure voters. KgwaraeMhuriro is said to be enjoying the support of the party leadership especially the Vice President Slumber Tsogwane’s lobby group. He is also said to be supported by his committee and the current NYEC Chairman Karabo Gomotsegang. Those anti- Kgwarae- Mhuriro candidacy are said to be working round the clock to ensure that he loses in Bobonong so as to send a strong message to those associated with the party leadership.
The issue of age is said to have been addressed during a meeting between NYEC leadership, Political Education and Elections Committee ( PEEC) Chairman Alec Seametso and Communications and International Relations Chairman Kagelelo Kentse. The meeting held on Monday this week is said to have resolved
to allow all to contest.
Kgwarae- Mhuriro told this publication that it is unfortunate that there are those who want to push the Vice President into the campaigns by further instigating fallacies that “I use his name at such a level.
“One thing that I need to make clear to yourself and any other Democrat out there is I can never in any case use the leadership to pursue my aspirations. I grew up in this political game hearing that people are for system, I have never been such. I pursue my thoughts and I will never slander anyone not even use elders’ names.”
He also dismissed claims that he is abusing his position as a Communications member. The only people you could be asking whether they are abusing their positions are the current NYEC members seeking positions back, argued Kgwarae- Mhuriro. He said he doesn’t know anything about the budget for the elections. “What I can tell you however is that I am focused and I am going to win at Bobonong,” he said.
Sebabi is aware of the smear campaign but expressed hope that young democrats will exercise their democratic rights
freely. As far as he knows the issue of age has been resolved and all those affected will be allowed to contest.
According to Sebabi, his focus is on the campaign and hopes to be given a chance to lead the youth and unite them towards the BDP’s 2024 general election victory. He explained that he has never participated in any smear campaign against other contestants.
Machona could not be reached for comment at press time.
Communications and International Relations Chairman Kagelelo Kentse said his committee can never be involved in any lobbying for internal party elections. He said the committee remains neutral and serves all Democrats.
“Therefore, those claims are false. Comms does party public relations and Communications; we do not run party internal elections. That is the role of Political Education and Elections Committee ( PEEC) and Electoral Board.
“I however do hope and believe that all contestants are between 18- 35 years of age. That is not a Comms rule but that of the party constitution,” he said in an interview.