12 Mar 2015

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) will from today (March 13) hold its 53rd National Council in Gaborone.

The three-day meeting, that is expected to be opened by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, will discuss revival and reinforcement of the party regional structures, party unity, transformation and overall revival. The council would also review its primary election process dubbed Bulela Ditswe.

Chairperson of BDP ccommunications and international relations sub-committee, Mr Shaw Kgathi, said at a press briefing on March 12 that BDP was committed to internal party democracy and considered it an important part of the party’s political culture.

“So, we shall be considering the initial draft of the Siele Commission Report on the review of the BDP primary elections process,” he said. He said the issues discussed would later be taken up at the July congress for consideration and for the party to endorse any final pronouncements on them.

Mr Kgathi all was well within the party contrary to some media reports that discredited his party.  He said a bulk of stories that were perennial in the media houses had no substance, adding that such reports were a calculated move to make people feel that BDP was not intact.

“We see this every wee, and we are of the view that some media houses collude with the opposition parties to rebrand BDP into something else,” he said.

He further said BDP, like any other movement, might to some extend have complex issues, but noted that all was well with BDP and that the democrats and the nation at large should stay focused and ignore negative press reports. ENDS