Team Tsogwane launches campaign
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 25, 2022 06:00
That did not exclude the BDP chairperson who is also the Vice President Slumber Tsogwane as he openly declared that he has made a lobbylist, which includes Kavis Kario as the secretary-general of the party.
Tsogwane will battle it out with Nonofo Molefhi for the party chairpersonship during the elective congress to be held in Tsabong from August 27-29.
When addressing the council, Tsogwane said he had an opportunity to talk to other members who had at first had an interest in the position of secretary-general like Dr Alfred Madigele who had no problem paving the way for Kario.
He also claimed that the reason why the deputy secretary-general Shaw Kgathi is not on his lobby list is that he had shown interest in the contest late and he knew that Tsogwane had already approached Kario for the race.
During a press briefing on Sunday, Tsogwane said: “It is true I have the lobbylist that I am campaigning with. I urge BDP members to support it because I believe that I will be able to work well with them to win the 2024 general election. My focus is to build a strong united BDP. Everyone has the right to contest for any position he or she wants and that is why I am even being challenged.
I had to build a team because I am defending my position as well.” He further indicated that Kario has what it takes to unite the party and ensure that some constituencies that had been won by the opposition parties in the 2019 general election are back to the BDP.
When indirectly endorsing Tsogwane, President Masisi told party members that he works well with Tsogwane both at the party and government level. “He is my personal advisor. I work well with him and he defends the party at Parliament and does resolve internal party issues when the need arises.
I trust him,” he said On the other hand, Kgathi said he is contesting because he is a democrat in good standing. “This project is far too important for nation building and in upholding democratic values that every democrat who believes that they have the right to stand, should stand.
I believe I have the experience and maturity to offer the party the right kind of leadership. Indeed I am standing in competition with a candidate who has been identified by the VP. But that is the nature of our politics.
When an incumbent decides to run, and the VP is running, it means that he or she will compete with others, not in his or her camp,” he said. The current deputy secretary-general said he has never had an opportunity to advise the party President because he was not the secretary-general but indicated that the President needs people who are not afraid to tell him unpleasant truths. He said he hopes for a diverse central committee and one with geographical, gender, age and experience diversity.
In addition, he said the members should know that voting according to the lobbylist has its own disadvantages and advantages. He continued: “Only if the average delegate does not feel compelled to vote in some particular way, but feel free to vote for a return to marakanelo a ditsela.
I am referring to a return to unity, integrity, fairness and other values.” Tsogwane’s lobby list consists of secretary-general: Kario, deputy secretary-general: Dr Lemogang Kwape, treasurer: Abdul Satar Dada, deputy treasurer: Jagdish Shah, and additional members: Ngaka Ngaka, Neo Kealotswe, Oabile Regoeng, Angelinah Sengalo and Machana Shamukuni. However, Molefhi is still running sole as he has not yet considered a lobby list. Meanwhile, the BDP youth who are also eyeing party positions for the Youth Wing also had a chance to canvass support as their elective congress is on August 4-6 at Bobonong.