Gobotswang eyes BCP Presidency
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday October 19, 2021 06:01
He shared his ambition to one day challenge for the BCP presidency in an interview with The Monitor last week, as part of his reflection on his journey within the party executive.
Gobotswang is currently the BCP vice president (VP) and interim secretary-general. However, he has indicated that he is not available for central committee elections at the party congress billed for this weekend. He believes that new people are needed for the positions of the secretary-general and vice president.
“I have ambitions of being the BCP president. If the opportunity avails itself in the future, I will definitely contest for it. A leader without ambition is a leader without vision,” Gobotswang said.
The outgoing VP noted that for now, he cannot challenge Dumelang Saleshando for the position of president because the latter is doing very well in the position.
In 2010, Gobotswang also shunned calls for him to challenge for the position of party president saying that Saleshando was his preferred choice. Saleshando has been BCP president since 2010.
Additionally, in 2005 Gobotswang campaigned for the position of the president against Otlaadisa Koosaletse and Gilson Saleshando. He would later withdraw from the race at the 11th hour and contested for the position of VP which he won. Again in 2005, Gobotswang noted that Dumelang was his preferred choice for BCP president.
Gobotswang noted that he has accumulated so much experience while serving as vice president and secretary-general of the BCP. The BCP firebrand added that the experience he gained would come in handy for him should he ascend to the position of president in future.
“Obviously you cannot occupy the position of VP without being prepared to take over in the event the president is unable to execute his duties. Over the years I have accumulated a wealth of political leadership experience that will not go to waste. I am a team player and a strong believer in strong institutions. When you spend years as part of the top leadership you become wiser,” he said.
Should his dream to become BCP president materialise one day, he says that his focus will be on improving the state of public schools and the country’s ailing health system.
“I am saddened by the state of our public education system as well as the public health care system. The Finland model excites me a lot. I strongly believe the country has sufficient resources to eradicate private schools and health facilities by heavily investing in public education and health,” Gobotswang said.
“Private schools and health care facilities are a product of public policy failure. If we can transform our education system there will be no need for the Minister of (Basic) Education and top bureaucrats to be taking their children to private instead of public schools. In the same vein, there will be no need for the Minister of Health (and Wellness) to prefer private over public hospitals,” he added.