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The composition of the BDP delegates
STRYKER MOTLALOSO
Staff Writer
7/15/2005 3:59:50 PM (GMT +2)
When the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) converges in Serowe during the President’s Day Holidays, about 1,111 delegates constituting the Electoral College will decide who sits in the central committee.
BDP executive secretary, Dr. Comma Serema says 114 delegates will be branch secretaries and chairpersons.
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The secretaries and chairpersons are people who head constituency committees. There are eight delegates drawn from each of the 57 constituencies, making a total of 456. About 437 delegates will be councillors - elected and nominated - excluding one from the South East District who died recently. The 18 central committee members are eligible to vote as delegates. The party’s 48 Members of Parliament will also go to the congress as delegates as well as 24 chairpersons and secretaries of regions. It is a one-person-one-vote at the BDP elections. This means an MP who is also a central committee member votes only once.
The process of selecting delegates starts at the cell level with the announcement of a meeting that elects delegates at ward congresses. Eventually, six delegates are selected from wards to branch congress and two other people comprising branch chairmen and secretaries. At branch congress level, eight delegates are elected who later go to the main congress. There will be 228 observers at the main congress in Serowe and 60 people from the subcommittees of the central committee such as PACT and the HIV/AIDS. Eight delegates will be drawn from the Youth Wing while six come from the Women’s Wing. The congress will be held at Swaneng Hill School. Delegates are expected to arrive in Serowe today.
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