Reports reaching Mmegi indicate that while the youth are generally talking unity and keen to avoid ‘noisy’ elections at their 16th congress, another group has emerged and called for open battle. The group is reportedly led by one of the contestants for the BDP youth presidency Kitso Seloma and Isaac Maforaga who has withdrawn from the race. The group is accused of spreading factional gospel and ignoring persistent calls for unity. Their opponents have come up with a ‘unity list’ of candidates that is being circulated around the country. But the Seloma-Maforaga group has of late been selling their own list with all positions duly filled up.

The so-called unity list includes both members of the Nkate-Merafhe and Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe factions of the BDP. Its candidate for the youth presidency is the 2004 loser Kefentse Mzwinila. On the other hand, the list from the Seloma-Maforaga is purely composed of operatives from the Nkate-Merafhe faction.

While the Mzwinila group claims to be preaching unity, the Seloma-Maforaga axis insists that they are doing things according to the party constitution. Mzwinila is tipped to take over the chairmanship of the BDP youth. He told Mmegi yesterday that the pro-unity list was arrived at after an endeavour to ensure that the BDP youth win becomes a structure that is representative of all the party youth. “We did this because we wanted to come up with an inclusive organ so that we can carry the interest of the party forward.” He stressed that this was an attempt to come up with an organised and disciplined structure that can take both the party and national issues forward.

The pro-unity group is saying that the experience of the 2004 Kasane congress is just too much for them. The BDP youth emerged from the Kasane congress heavily divided with the Mzwinila group pulling in a different direction in defeat. His protest that the elections were riddled by irregularities was dismissed by the party. The Mzwinila group has come up with their compromise list incorporating public speakers, strategic thinkers and coordinators or planners. However, Maforaga and Seloma who were roped in the initial unity list as deputy chairman and information officer respectively pulled out and came up with their own line-up. Though he has withdrawn from the race for the youth presidency,

Maforaga said he does not subscribe to the notion of unity without elections. “I know that some of us have reportedly gone to the Vice President Ian Khama and proposed a compromise. But the best thing to happen for the youth is to hold proper elections in Bobonong.” He asserted that Seloma is going to beat Mzwinila hands down. He said Seloma is leading in the race as a majority of the youth are for elections and not ‘unity elections’.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Seloma indicated that he was ready for the contest. “I have heard about the compromise list, but democratically the best way is to hold elections in the spirit and letter of the constitution and let the youth decide.” Seloma said that at the two seminars held at Sebele and Francistown, the youth have decided that elections should be held and there should be no compromise lists. “We are not against unity. Our group and that led by Mzwinila are for unity. The main difference is the method of bringing about this unity,” he asserted.

His group’s main contention is that if they choose the compromise, then their action will be tantamount to endorsing factions that have been outlawed by the party leadership.

BDP executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema said yesterday that the party is aware of attempts to have peaceful youth elections. “We are aware the youth have been doing a lot to unite and have even agreed on certain things ahead of the congress and elections,” said Serema. He explained the youth have agreed that the congress will have democratic elections with no factional feuds like before. “I am aware that while there will be elections, they will be held in a manner that will promote peace in the party,” he emphasised. He the list that is being circulated is meant to bring peace as agreed by the party youth. Efforts to reach Meswele at press time were fruitless as he was reported to be attending a workshop in Mokolodi and could not take calls from his mobile.