09 Feb 2015

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) youth congress held in Masunga, over the weekend, adopted several motions aimed at addressing issues relating to the conduct of the party’s primary elections.

In a session held prior to the dissolution of the youth wing’s national executive committee, chairperson, Mr Andy Boatile, who was later re-elected to the same position had led the delegates in coming up with suggestions on what could be done to improve the way the party’s primary elections were conducted.

Mr Boatile noted with concern how the process had deepened divisions within the party, saying a lot had to be done to prevent any further damage.

He thus implored the delegates to bring forth motions and resolutions for presentation to the party’s top structures to help address issues relating to the Bulela Ditswe process.

Some of the suggestions brought forth included the call for public officers to be allowed to take part in the primary elections, with the argument being that there was some resistance encountered when selling the party’s candidates to such a sector of the population in the run up to the general elections as civil servants were said to be of the view that the party should do without them as it had already done so in earmarking candidates for political office.

The delegates also called for the setting up of the Bulela Ditswe appeals board prior to the conduct of the primary elections, also suggesting that at least 80 percent of the board be constituted by party veterans who were well-versed with party regulations and procedures.

Such a move, it was believed would ensure that there was no bias in handling appeals lodged with the board as had been the case in the past.

Another adopted motion was that calling for the setting up of a fund to support youth aspirants who had managed to win the primary elections, as due to resource limitations, the youth later failed to win much ground against wealthier candidates in preparation for the general elections.

In those unrelated to the Bulela Ditswe process, it was resolved that the Youth Development Fund be reviewed such that the requirements to benefit from the programme would differ per region depending on circumstances prevailing in different parts of the country.

This, it was believed would also effectively address the needs of young people in different parts of the country.

The congress also resolved to lobby for the Tirelo Setshaba participants to be allowed to also benefit from other youth empowerment initiatives as the money they were being paid through the programme was inconsistent with the high cost of living. ENDS