21 May 2018

Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has implored Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members to recruit more members into the party.

Welcoming councillor for Xhumo ward, Mr Elija Motsamai who had recently joined the BDP from the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) on May 19, Mr Tsogwane called on party members to extend a warm welcome to newly recruited members.

He encouraged them to work hard for the party to ensure it wins the 2019 general elections.

Mr Tsogwane, who is also the BDP national chairperson, said all party members should embark on a recruitment drive to attract opposition party members who had been neglected by their parties.

He indicated that Botswana National Front (BNF) was not a threat since it had been destroyed and would be non-existent in 2019 general elections.

Further, he noted that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader, Mr Duma Boko was causing divisions in the party, saying it could only pull through if he could renounce the leadership position.

Mr Tsogwane appealed to all citizens to register for elections in September, saying there would be no supplementary registration.

He said they should not be misled by people who advise them against registering for elections because they were against the use of Electronic Voting Machine.

He said that they should learn to believe in changes and adapt them, citing that there were some people who were against political reforms, reiterating that Batswana should not fall for their proposal.

The BDP secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi asked the party members to extend a warm welcome towards councillors who had joined their party from opposition parties.

He commended the specially elected councillor, Mr Geoffery Nsiiwa of Xhumo for welcoming a councillor from opposition without any fear.

Mr Balopi said BDP constitution was enacted in accordance with principles of love, care and compassion, noting that membership of all the party members remained equal.

He informed new members who came from BCP with Councillor Motsamai to acknowledge themselves as BDP party members, for them to be easily welcomed and recognised in the party.

Another speaker, Mr Kentse Rammidi said opposition parties were vanishing, noting that BDP would continue to rule as opposition parties dwell in fights over positions.

Mr Rammidi said general elections were about to be held, but opposition parties negotiations were not yet finalised.

He discouraged party members from being demoralised by people criticising BDP, saying they should be proud that party membership was growing in leaps and bounds as they poached a councillor from BCP.

Cllr Nsiiwa said Xhumo ward had been giving the party a tough time to claim it, saying the party was now going to sail through the coming general elections.

He said they had put in place plans to fight BCP to ensure it would no longer have a trace in Xhumo ward.

He stated that they had made an agreement that they would not hold primary elections for Xhumo ward, saying the party would come with a name of a candidate who would contest for the coming elections.

Boteti West branch vice chairperson, Mr Osimolotse Lekgoko said the party lost Xhumo ward in 2014 with a margin of 36, stating that they had registered 96 new members.

Meanwhile, addressing a BDP rally in Mopipi on Saturday, Vice President Tsogwane said BDP is different from other parties as it has implementable programmes.

He stated that BDP was going to claim Mopipi ward in 2019, noting they were going to reclaim all the wards currently under opposition.

The party chairperson appealed to party members to desist from being misled by opposition members, urging them to refrain from the tendency of voting for opposition parties.

He said President Mokgweetsi Masisi was steering the country in the right direction.

The BDP secretary general reiterated that they were going to reclaim other wards that were not represented by BDP.

The BDP, he said, had ruled the country since 1966, but had never changed symbols, logos or its brand colours.

He said their aim was to recruit more members from opposition parties, adding that their wish was that BDP should be having nine wards in Boteti West.

Specially elected councillor, Baobonye Loeto of Mopipi said the party was on recruitment drive, noting they have 50 new members joining the party. Ends