26 Mar 2017

 The buildup to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) National Congress in July is gradually gaining ground and party leader, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has said the party was at a delicate stage and could not afford damaging divisions in membership ranks given the looming 2019 elections.

March 24, President Khama said he had already received reports of jostling for influence in regional congresses that preceded the national council hence the need to unite as the party goes to congress.
 “As we may all expect, the moment we depart Gaborone there will be an escalation in tension as aspirants tussle for delegates to National Congress a situation which if not handled with care may revive factionalism with its worrisome implications for our cohesion,” he told democrats.

President Khama encouraged candidates who aspired for central committee positions to meet and agree on who should stand.
This, he said, was in consonance with the agreed principle of consensus building and the endeavor to promote party unity and cohesion.

“I wish to ask all to encourage the candidates standing in each position to meet and agree on only one of them standing. Should this attempt find traction, it goes without saying that the 37th national congress will be smooth,” he said.    Further, the President  encouraged the spirit of camaraderie amongst democrats adding that they should continue to make meaningful contribution in the party.
He noted that there was need for party members to comply with set rules all the time and not only when it suited them.

He highlighted that some members of the party had a tendency of concealing registration books and registering only voters who supported them.
“It now seems to be more of a rule than exception that many democrats wishing to renew membership are being denied this right by registrars, disturbingly the exercise appears to be in the capture of vested interests with designs and firm focus on Bulela Ditswe. This state of affairs is unacceptable and requires an effective solution,” he said, adding that this may consequently cause democrats to vote for opposition when they felt disenfranchised.

He  emphasised the need for the party members to resolve internal challenges for the reason that the result would be a high performing government that would deliver to its electorate.
Thus, he said democrats must remain vigilant and acknowledge that they could not afford to sit on their laurels and give the country to the opposition, “this country cannot be subjected to an experiment of opposition rule,” he said.

He said the national council afforded democrats an opportunity to retrospect on the policies and programmes of the party and government respectively. This, he said, was a culture that had enabled the ruling party to make tangible difference in the lives of Batswana.

For his part, Mr  Masisi emphasised the need for democrats to treat the national council as a forum where all issues were adequately dealt with and solved to ensure they go into the national congress footing on one ground.
He said that this was in line with the BDP constitution hence the need for all to iron out any outstanding matters pending the July national congress. ENDS