Molapise remains BPP president until 2024
Chakalisa Dube | Monday August 1, 2022 06:00
The latest developments come amid reports that a section of Botswana National Front (BNF) members in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) are not keen to work with others who have been widely tipped to replace Molapise. In recent months, Molapise has appeared not keen to remain as the helmsman.
Francistown West legislator Ignatius Moswaane, Professor Philip Bulawa and Nono Kgafela are amongst those who want to replace Molapise with Moswaane being the favourite in the race.
The trio is seen as more sympathetic to the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), a party that has fallen out with its coalition partners; the BPP and the BNF. The BPP was expected to elect new leadership committee this month, but the elections have been postponed indefinitely.
Mmegi has established that the BPP Youth League (BPPYL) has already started lobbying other party members to endorse the proposal to allow Molapise to remain at the helm of the party until the 2024 general elections.
BPPYL secretary-general, Gosego Phuthego recently confirmed that the party youth would like Molapise to remain as president until the next general elections. He said replacing Molapise at a time when the UDC is experiencing internal bickering might not be a wise decision.
His reasoning was that if Molapise is replaced as BPP president, it would mean that he will cease being part of the UDC national executive committee (NEC) and his absence is likely to worsen opposition instability.
“We believe that apart from bringing maturity in the UDC NEC, he understands problems in the coalition. If he is replaced now, his replacement might take time to comprehend the dynamics and challenges in the UDC,” he said.
“This would ultimately leave the coalition in a precarious position and have a negative impact on the preparations for the 2024 general elections which are very close.”
He also said the youth league supported the proposal for the postponement of the leadership elections on account of various reasons. The BPP executive elections were supposed to be held this month, but were postponed indefinitely.
Amongst the reasons the BPPYL did not want the elections to be held was that members, including delegates have no membership cards as they are still being processed. There were also concerns that general preparations were not done accordingly to afford the party to hold an elective congress.
Yesterday BPP spokesperson, Tshepo Makhani said the party central committee (CC) is not aware of calls for Molapise to remain as president until after the 2024 general elections.
“It is however, important to state that other party structures such as the youth and women’s league can discuss such matters at their respective fora before bringing them to the CC.”
Makhani said the party has a pool of capable leaders who can replace Molapise as BPP president and in the UDC National Executive Committee adding that the party’s elective congress was postponed to allow the organisation to devote much of its resources to campaign for Moselewapula by-election.