BDP youth trio slug it out
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday August 8, 2022 06:00
Some of the members who are eyeing the national youth executive committee (NYEC) chairperson position are Kabelo Masvingo Mhuriro, Tinah Tametu and Tony Sebabi.
The elective congress is held under the theme: "United and Consolidated" and it will be opened by President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Recently, at the BDP national council, members agreed that there was a need for unity and reconciliation amongst the party members. Some have already issued their manifestos indicating what they intend to do when voted into office.
If voted, Mhuriro said for him it is all about transforming the youth structures and giving them ownership not only within the party but also in government.
“For our generation to live up to the standards necessitated by the time, we need to not only be united.
We need to also shape our destiny. Such I have relayed it into the pillar which has since been referred to as Triple R: Resuscitation, Rejuvenation and Realignment," he said. On resuscitation, he said they need to resuscitate their structures. Mhuriro said being in NYEC is not much about attending central committee meetings but it is about ensuring that young people out there as far as Kachikau, CKGR, Lepokole and others have a contributory role in the running of the party.
“I have deliberately made a list for the first time in the BDP to announce sub-committees for NYEC in which branches will be given the opportunity to delegate a democrat to serve in such a capacity,” he said. On rejuvenation, Mhuriro pointed out that they will talk much about the recruitment of members. He said the recruitment drive is an old school method since each member of the BDP has a duty to recruit members. However, he said the party needs to focus more on the retention and progression aspect.
“We need to craft policies that will give the BDP youth opportunities. We need to ensure that our structures remain as active as ever,” he added. On matters of realignment, he indicated that the BDP youth have been divorced from running and benefiting from the government. He said it is very much difficult for the BDP activists to be appointed to positions, especially in government. He continued: “We have an intelligent generation of young people so it should be rightfully clear that we are in government. We need to openly endorse the aspect of appointing permanent secretaries who are youthful, credible and democrats. The office of the Chief of Staff, which is a link between the government and the ruling party has a task to ensure such becomes a reality. We can't in any instance have permanent secretaries who are anti-BDP. How do they pursue our mandate?”
Another contender, Sebabi said the primary mandate when the youth elects him as chairperson is simple; "Youth First! Where there is anything to be gotten, any resources to be dished out, I will strongly advocate the youth be primarily considered. I will be available for public utility by making time to address issues affecting the youth and making them a priority in a manner that exceeds my own interests. The vehicle with which we will be putting the youth of this country first will be through youth empowerment. This is something I am familiar with since I have inspired and assisted around 17 youth to successfully apply for programmes and initiatives that our caring government has availed.”
He said this passion and dedication have also compelled them to assist the youth to get their driver's licenses by financing this process every month. For his part, Tametu said some of the key things that he would want to focus most on include engagement in a robust political education campaign to encourage the youth and support participation in national politics by contesting and being part of the conversation in the 2024 general election and beyond.
He added that they want to improve communications and engagements across various structures of the party especially youth branch committees. Tametu said they want to advocate effectively at the national level and create a platform where all youth branch chairpersons and secretaries regularly represent, deliberate and discuss issues surrounding the youth. He said decisions arising from such shall be used to advise on relevant policies. He also indicated that they aim to recruit and register 10,000 new members by 2024 in the youth age bracket and to establish a youth office at Tsholetsa House. He revealed that the latter's primary mandate shall be to receive and deal with all and any matters relating to the youth and its national executive committee.
Otsile Machola, who has been in the race until late Wednesday, has been disqualified from the race due to age limitation issues as he is aged above 35 yearts. BDP NYEC membership is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 35 years.