29 May 2022

The BDP must work hard and get ready to recapture constituencies held by the opposition at the next general elections.
Acting President Mr Slumber Tsogwane, who is also the BDP chairperson said this when addressing Botswana Democratic Party’s Bobirwa, Mmadinare and Selebi Phikwe (BOMASE) region to work hard to win the constituencies they lost to the opposition in the coming general elections.

Addressing democrats Saurday, Mr Tsogwane encouraged BDP members to put aside their differences and work together towards victory.
He implored BDP members to be selfless and put the interests of the party and Batswana before everything, which they should ensure by among others, always voting for the party.
The chairman warned the party would not tolerate members who voted for the opposition and would take serious action against them.

“You owe us an answer as to why you failed to retain constituencies that we won in 2014. We want a detailed report explaining what happened and the solution to the problem,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane further urged democrats to desist from corruption and seize the opportunity to sell government policies and programmes to Batswana as espoused in the BDP manifesto.
He challenged BDP members to internalise the party manifesto like it were the Bible.

Mr Tsogwane welcomed new members and former BDP members who defected to opposition parties during the 2019 general elections.
“Start wearing party colours and recruit more members to join BDP, ” he told them. Turning to councillors, he reminded them that elections for chairpersons and mayors were closer, and there was need to adequately prepare. He urged them to caucus and stand with decisions taken at the caucus without fail, adding that the party believed in a “block vote,” not personal votes.

As such caucus decisions should be implemented without fail, he said. Former Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe urged BDP members to commence rallies to sell BDP to Batswana, adding that stopping the rallies on account of COVID-19 pandemic gave the opposition some mileage.
He reiterated that BDP should go back to the drawing board, iron out their differences and move forward to win constituencies and wards lost to the opposition.

Dr Kedikilwe said the BDP had young visionary leaders who had the potential to take the country to greater heights, and commended the efforts made by the leadership to sell the country to the international community.

He said that would go a long way towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment, which will in turn create employment for Batswana.
 Dr Kedikilwe said what was left was for members to meet the leadership halfway and inform the nation about the party’s achievements.
He encouraged them to use rallies in addition to social media platforms which he said were not enough to send the message to Batswana.

Dr Kedikilwe said mounting rallies in villages was particularly important as information about the party was lacking owing to non-availability of radios and televisions.
BOMASE chairperson Mr Kgomotso Mmereki said time had come for the BDP to start preparing for the 2024 general elections and called on members to unite and work together towards victory in the 2024 general elections. ENDS