BDP goes to Tsabong divided
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members descend in Tsabong for their party’s elective congress next weekend divided. This leaves President Mokgweetsi Masisi in a tough space as he tries to pursue his Reset Agenda. The theme of the elective congress is, “Unity and Consolidation” which is in contrast to the divided state of the party.
Recently at different BDP lower structures’ elective congresses, Masisi called for unity and reconciliation amongst members. Despite that, the division within the party was confirmed by BDP spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse recently, who highlighted that the reason why they lost some crucial by-elections was because of BDP members’ internal fights.
The party also requested members not to use President Masisi’s name when campaigning for different party positions. Currently, the members have different views on some issues and they are worried about the state of the party. At their National Council recently, they made a resolution which encouraged members to maintain discipline and unity as required by the party constitution and the accompanying disciplinary rules and requirements.
So far, the members want the congress to focus on policies, not only on the elections.
According to the BDP constitution, congress is the final decision-making body and it is supposed to make final endorsements on recommendations that were passed by the recent National Council. Mmegi has learnt that BDP members may not vote as per the lobby teams as they believe that the lobby teams encourage divisions and in the end, some fail to deliver after being elected into office.
“Just like what happened at Bobonong during the youth congress, the youth voted some members across lobby teams even though those who dominated the race were from newly elected chairperson Collen Mochotlhi while the one led by Tinah Tameti won some few seats. We are hoping for robust debates at the upcoming elective congress.
The members want things to be done differently from the way they have been done. One of the things the members cry for is that there is no developmental growth within the party contrary to the state of affairs during the reign of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi, and Botsalo Ntuane amongst others.
We want to see our members growing from becoming youth wing chairpersons to the ministerial levels. As members, we are not against members who come from other parties but there must be a certain percentage for their political empowerment.
Currently, our youth seems not to be growing politically unlike before. That development must be embraced,” a source within the party said. In addition, the source said there is a need for continuity within the party.
The other issue that some members complain about is that the party has lost its identity as members even fail to even sing party songs.
However, the members believe that the party will return from Tsabong united and having adopted a model they will use to campaign for the 2024 General Elections since the majority of members plead for unity.
Meanwhile, political analyst Mokaloba Mokaloba said factionalism is nothing new in the BDP and it has at times even resulted in breakaways.
“As they head for Tsabong, it is evident that the party needs unity more than ever largely due to their poor performance in the recent by-elections and the road to 2024. Candidates for party positions have come from all over the party although one cannot predict or guarantee unity. Certainty is that they need it more than ever,” Mokaloba said in an interview.
Some of the resolutions that will be tabled for adoption at the congress include government’s Reset Agenda to make sure that it is embraced and accepted as a timely and necessary measures to improve government performance and to create opportunities for Batswana; the recent rationalisation of government aimed at improving government performance.
The party also supports the government’s plan to use the constituency development fund to construct internal roads around the country; encourages party members to maintain discipline and unity as required by the party constitution and the accompanying disciplinary rules and regulations, among others.
The National Council had further resolved that all party structures be encouraged to consider and prioritise consensus candidates in all upcoming by-elections as well as the next general election. Yet other resolutions were that the party supports all government policies.