18 Mar 2019

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) deputy secretary general, Mr Shaw Kgathi, has appealed to democrats to fight for unity within the party.

With general elections looming, Mr Kgathi said unity would be an important catalyst to victory.

“There is a political penalty that we need to score and I appeal to you to unite”, said Mr Kgathi, adding that the party was bigger than any individual.

Mr Kgathi advised those who lost in the primary elections and appeals to learn to forgive and forget. 

He said it was imperative that the BDP must win more seats in the general elections, a feat  only possible if they put aside political differences and interests. 

He pleaded with democrats not to let the opposition increase its representation in Parliament. 

“I am appealing to you not to assist the opposition have more seats in Parliament,” he added.

He said those who lost in the party’s primary elections should support those who won for the sake of the party’s progress. 

He praised Francistown region for being a model for other regions adding that after the party congress, a strategy would be laid down to strive to win all the five constituencies in the region. 

The contituencies are; Francistown West represented by Mr Ignatius Moswaane, Francistown East represented by Mr Buti Billy, Francistown South represented by Mr Modiri Lucas, Tati East by Mr Samson Guma and Tonota by Mr Thapelo Olopeng. 

The regional chairperson, Mr Baemedi Medupi, said Francistown West did exceptionally well in the previous general elections, winning all six council wards but later lost Moselewapula after a bye election. Mr Medupi said other constituencies such as Francistown East, Tati East and Tonota also did well even though they lost several council wards to the opposition. 

He said there was need to work hard in the Francistown South constituency, which had always been in the hands of opposition.

The region also endorsed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as the party president but did not agree on the resolution that  the national executive committee elections be held after the general elections. 

The congress also adopted a motion by Mr Moswaane who asked the central committee to give Francistown region a green light to source its own funds in order to build new party offices in Francistown.

Other resolutions that affected the constitution of the BDP were deferred until further notice. Ends