03 Aug 2016

With approximately three years remaining for Botswana’s general elections, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has resolved to start its internal processes as early as possible to enable its candidates ample time to focus on the general elections campaign.

Speaking at a press brief, secretary general of the BDP Mr Botsalo Ntuane said having recognised the setbacks the party suffered in 2014, they aim to reverse the gains made by the opposition and restore the BDP’s dominant position on the political landscape.

“June 30 2017 will be the registration cut off for all our Bulela Ditswe candidates for opposition held areas, July 1-17 2017 will be submission of applications to branch committees by aspirant candidates, July 18-31 2017 will be consultations on consensus candidates, August 1-6 2017 is vetting of local government and parliamentary applicants by branch committees and by August 30 2017 the central committee will announce primary elections candidates,” he said.

He indicated that primary elections for 19 held opposition constituencies and applicable wards would be held on October 2017.

“As for the BDP held constituencies, the registration cut off for aspirants will be on June 30 2018. Submission of applications to branch committees will be from July 1-17 2018, July 18-31 will be consultations on consensus candidates, August 1-6 2018 will be vetting of council and parliamentary applicants by branch committees, August 9 2018 will be submission of vetting recommendations from branch committees to central committee and August 30 2018 the central committee will announce primary election candidates,” he said, adding that October 2018 the party would hold primary elections for 38 BDP held constituencies and applicable wards.

 Mr Ntuane also noted that the party has resolved to draw up strategies for the different constituencies and regions.

“This will be a departure from previous elections where we were guided by an overarching national campaign strategy and for obvious reasons the outcome of this exercise will remain confidential,” he said.

Mr Ntuane assured democrats that the method for selecting candidates would be transparent, voter friendly, fair and beyond reproach.

“The integrity of primary elections is essential to the acceptance of results by aspirants and by extension the support they will enjoy from the membership in general elections,” he said, also noting that the guidelines in question were endorsed by congress and would be in use for the upcoming Bulela Ditswe season.

Speaking on the special party congress they held on July 22-23 2016 at Mogoditshane, Mr Ntuane said democrats from all 57 branches and 14 regions showed it was a highly successful gathering.

He said delegates also embraced the idea of setting up a BDP school and already the party is in talks with some of its partners and fraternal parties who have a similar arrangement to capacitate the party in terms of curriculum development and other aspects.

For his part, deputy secretary general of the BDP Mr Shaw Kgathi said democrats should be prepared for a few surprises regarding high profile opposition members who would be defecting to the BDP.

“This past weekend the party chairman travelled to Ghanzi to receive 112 new members from the opposition parties,”’ he said ENDS