22 Apr 2024

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members have been urged to familiarise themselves with the party’s constitution and policies that guide developments.

Speaking at the Kweneng East Regional Congress in Metsimotlhabe on Sunday, Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane said it was imperative that members understood the party’s policies in order to lure members ahead of the general elections billed for October.

Mr Tsogwane, who is also the party chairman, said understanding the party’s constitution would lead to no uncertainties over how matters should be addressed.

He also noted that the party’s constitution had been amended over the years to keep pace with the ever changing political environment, adding that every BDP member should be guided by the constitution.

Quoting the Setswana adage that Sedibeng go iwa ka tsela, the Vice President encouraged BDP members to follow agreed procedures in dealing with party matters.

Furthermore, he encouraged them to know the background of all party policies and how developments were prioritised and the different National Development Plans (NDPs).

The BDP chairman also informed members that following the delimitation exercise, new constituencies had been created and that new branch committees should also be formed.

He said the party constitution stipulated that branch committees were responsible for all party activities and that MPs and councillors were ex-officio members.

He urged party members to follow the constitution when preparing for the primary elections, adding that all interested members would be given time to campaign in their respective wards and constituencies.

He also urged branch committee members to desist from campaigning for their favourite candidates, and that those who were campaign managers for some candidates should relinquish their posts in the branch committee.

He said it was done to promote fairness and that any member who flouted primary election rules would face disciplinary action. Moreover, he urged all members who would not be successful in the primary elections to rally behind the winners in order to ensure victory for the BDP during the general elections.

Mr Tsogwane also advised BDP members to use social media wisely and to promote unity in the party. He said party members should encourage others to register and vote for the party.

Meanwhile, the region endorsed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as its presidential nominee in the coming elections. ENDS