15 Apr 2024

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)Chairperson,  Mr Slumber Tsogwane has pleaded with party members to strive to revive all party structures in an effort to disseminate the BDP’s message to Batswana.

Speaking during the BDP Gaborone Region Presidential nomination congress on April 14, Mr Tsogwane, who is also the Vice President, said all the party structures at all levels must be mobilised and sufficiently motivated in order to disseminate the BDP mandate.

He urged all the democrats to ensure that the party structures are active and functional towards the upcoming general election adding that a thorough audit must be undertaken in every constituency to ascertain the status of every structure.

As an imperative, he said every cell, ward, branch and regional structure must function at the maximum level because the BDP organisational structure was designed in such a way that the party should not be lacking in terms of foot soldiers to mobilise the electorate.

Mr Tsogwane reiterated that the party leads government commitment to transform the country saying that the BDP government had since independence been determined to prudently preserve and grow the interests of the country particularly in human empowerment. “We have over the years structured and formulated policies that cater for all Batswana in insuring that no one is left behind. 

There is, for example, the Rural Development Council, which is mandated to deal with the reduction of poverty, finding ways to help provide opportunities for income generation and involvement in economic activities by Batswana in the rural areas,” he said.

He said Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world at independence, but he credited the BDP government for successfully transforming the economy of the country from the poorest to upper-middle income country.

The Vice President said the recently launched Chema Chema Fund was testament to government’s continuous efforts to empower and uplift Batswana, adding that government was hopeful to increase the Chema Chema funding in the next financial year should funds permit. He also cautioned the democrats to guard against opposition aligned rumour mills who spread malicious allegations aimed at tarnishing the good name of the BDP and its leadership. “You need to guard and protect the BDP from unfounded allegations like the one that has recently been doing the rounds regarding the vetting results.

I need to put the record straight that the vetting results on aspiring candidates have not been released, hence no one has been vetted out as yet,” he said.

He pleaded with Batswana to develop the culture of finding the truth in whatever news or allegations they are being fed with. Additionally, the party’s Secretary General, Mr Kavis Kario said since the first victory in 1965, the BDP has been returned to office on account of the ability to respond to the needs of the citizenry.

“We have always preached a basic message, easily understood by our people to the effect that as a government, we stand for development and improvement of the life conditions of Batswana. Since we assumed stewardship of this nation, the life of the very Motswana has undergone tremendous positive change,” he said.

He noted that since the attainment of nationhood, Batswana consider BDP the party of governance as it continues to be the custodian of every Motswana’s dream and aspirations for a better present and even better future.

Mr Kario nonetheless advised the BDP members not to bask in the glory of previous election victories but rather soldier on with vigorous campaigns to lure new members to the party.

Meanwhile, the region unanimously nominated and endorsed President Mokgweetsi Masisi as the party’s 2024 presidential candidate for the upcoming general elections.

The nomination is in accordance with BDP constitution, article 29.2, which cites that each region may nominate one inspiring candidate in good standing from any region to the regional secretary not less than 24 hours before the commencement of the national congress. ENDS