24 Jan 2018

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) over the week-end conducted its primary elections dubbed Bulela-Ditswe, in all 10 opposition-held constituencies.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, BDP secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi said as a party they pride themselves for having relentlessly over the years managed to hold their primary elections without fear.

“We are very proud as BDP that we managed to hold credible elections, and all those who contested in the Bulela-Ditswe were credible and very able candidates, and I must thank those who participated, those who won and those who were not successful, for the smoothness of this process”, he said.

Meanwhile, he said Ralekgetho ward and Mochudi East bye elections had to happen in 90 days, adding that for the council bye-election they were currently waiting for the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to give them a date.

For the parliamentary bye-elections, the writ of elections, which he also said would be held within 90 days, will be issued by the President.

He said that is when they would be able to hold primary elections and other processes necessary for them to have a sound and well-structured bye-election.

“However, there is a process within the BDP that we follow, and we are doing this thing very carefully, because ka Setswana, we know there is a mourning period, so we are not in any hurry to identify candidates who can replace our departed cadres,” he said.

For his part, BDP deputy secretary general, Mr Shaw Kgathi said that their recent Bulela-Ditswe exercise was free, fair, open, transparent and peaceful.

He said the recent primary elections were the most peaceful election they had held as a party compared to the previous ones.

“I am not shy to comment and say that I think they were very peaceful, and we should also appreciate that democracy is very expensive.

These elections have cost the BDP in the region of P669 000.

We haven’t done the summary, but that’s the amount that we have spent,” he said

Mr Kgathi further said as BDP, they strongly believe that for them to strengthen inner party democracy they must pay, an attribute which he said was a rare resource in opposition parties.

“We bite the bullet, the problem that are inherent in the primary elections, we will address, and this is the fruit of what the President has been doing across the country, preaching team work and unity. This is the product of that investment,” he said. Ends