BATTLE LINES DRAWN
Political parties prepare for elective congresses
The majority of political parties in the country will hold elective congresses this year to introspect and engage their members on policies and leadership matters.
The BDP will be going for its National Council during the July holidays and National Congress in August.
“History tells us that the BDP congresses are usually hotly contested but never violent. What is important is for those contesting for positions to lead by example and manage their supporters.
Contestants must not incite their supporters. They must respect and follow both the party constitution and its elections guidelines. That way, they will be able to keep peace and protect the party,” BDP spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse said.
The ruling party official believes that it is important for the party membership to know that contesting teams are all Democrats therefore must respect each other even beyond the congress.
“It is important to rally behind those elected and for mostly those who could not win, to give the winners support. That principle is critical for the survival of any political party beyond congress,” the party mouthpiece concluded.
Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) will hold its congress in October.
“We are confident the Patriots will emerge more united given the fact that they will have had the opportunity to give a mandate to a leadership of their choice.
All interested in serving the party will be allowed to contest and the elections will be free and fair. As a credible and inherently peaceful democracy-loving people, we will have a very good congress.
As well, the constitution and leadership will ensure that acts of indiscipline are nipped in the bud,” the spokesperson of the BPF, Lawrence Ookeditse said.
He pointed out that peaceful congresses are about ensuring that you follow your party’s rules and let the people choose their leaders. “This we shall do,” Ookeditse added.
The Publicity Secretary of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Justin Hunyepa has got absolute confidence in his party’s oversight infrastructure.
“Elections are always controversial. Therefore, the BNF has long developed electoral rules and regulations. The BNF constitution also has articles on party elections. Different structures of the party also play their roles by holding congresses supervised by an upper body.
There is also the Electoral Board and the Central Committee that ensures that everything is in order and that a peaceful election is held,” he noted, adding that party members are always encouraged to accept the outcome of the elections as it is not possible for all the contestants to emerge victorious.
On the other hand, the Secretary-General of the Alliance for Progressives (AP), Phenyo Butale says that internal party democracy predicated on transparency is critical in any competition.
“It is important to ensure that every party member is made to feel that nobody is belittled. Besides, all must have confidence in the processes. None must feel disenfranchised and feel unfairly treated,’’ Butale said.
He also revealed that unlike other parties, the AP does not allow ‘lobby groups’ or ‘temporary platforms.’ The position of his party is that those practices polarise the party.
“You may campaign as an individual but you are not allowed to belong to a lobby group,” Butale said, adding that occasionally, the party holds conflict resolution workshops to ensure peace and unity reign in the party.
Likewise, the BPP will have an elective congress sometime this year. “We are going to have a successful elective congress and preparations are underway.
We have been forming party structures throughout the country as we push our membership drive.
“For example, after many years, we have party members at the University of Botswana (UB) including in the recentlyelected Student Representative Council (SRC),” Chairman of the BPP, Prof Philip Bulawa said.
The BPP chairperson said that his party has got no factional divisions so far.
“People say we are united because we are a very small party. That is not true anymore. The BPP has been experiencing growth,” the UB lecturer said.
University of Botswana (UB) political science lecturer, Adam Mfundisi said that party congresses and similar gatherings not only give the ordinary people the opportunity to strengthen inner-party democracy in their respective parties but are also avenues for genuine participation by the masses.