16 May 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi will officially launch vice president, and also Boteti West MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane as Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) Boteti West parliamentary prospective candidate for 2019 general elections at Rakops, on May 26.

Addressing a press conference on May 15, BDP secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi said on June 8, President Masisi would launch him, as BDP’s Gaborone North parliamentary prospective candidate at Duma FM grounds.

On June 9, he said the President would launch BDP Women’s Wing chairperson, Ms Dorcas Makgato as the party’s Sefhare/Maunatlala parliamentary candidate, while the Vice President would launch BDP Youth Wing chairperson, Mr Simon Mavange as the party’s Tati West parliamentary prospective candidate, on the same day.

He said the schedule for the launch of all the other remaining BDP prospective candidates for the 2019 general elections would be announced next week.

He also noted that the party would next week, launch the second edition of its Manifesto, which would be a combined Setswana and English version.

Further, following Lerala/Maunatlala MP, Mr Prince Maele and Tati West MP, Mr Biggie Butale’s suspension from BDP, Mr Balopi said so far, only Mr Maele had appealed his suspension and was still awaiting the verdict for the appeal.

He said Mr Butale, who is a sitting MP, also has an opportunity to appeal his suspension as the 14 days to appeal the verdict has not elapsed.

Mr Maele was slapped with a one-year suspension from the party, while Mr Butale’s is a six-month suspension.

Meanwhile, BDP deputy secretary general, Mr Shaw Kgathi has revealed that the party was currently preparing to hold primary elections dubbed Bulela Ditswe at Tati East, following the expulsion of Tati East MP, Mr Samson Guma from BDP.

Mr Kgathi said a full update regarding the Tati East Bulela Ditswe would be announced at the next BDP press conference, stressing that Bulela Ditswe would be for a parliamentary candidate only.

The press briefing was meant to update the media about the outcome of BDP executive committee’s meeting, which was held on May 13. ENDs