Kario exudes confidence
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday August 15, 2022 06:00
Kario slugs it out with Shaw Kgathi for the party's coveted position.
It, however, turned out that he needs more than the endorsement of the party leadership to win.
With BDP history, in most instances, members with party leadership blessings stand a chance to win most of the time than others. Kario stands firm and believes he can convince the BDP members that he is the right man to lead their secretariat towards the 2024 elections.
“Elections are by nature complex and uncertain events whose outcome may not be predetermined but one is inclined to believe that having consistently served the party at various levels and my own credentials as a team manager and leader both within the party and as a professional, are key attributes that delegates will consider to vote me into office,” said Kario.
He added: “I stand on a pedestal of unity, inclusivity and solid cohesion behind party leader Mokgweetsi Masisi and Slumber Tsogwane, which I believe is a necessary ingredient for any political party that seeks to win elections.
My commitment to the principles of kagisano and therisanyo when paired with proven skills in conflict management should also influence a favourable vote for me.” The BDP aspirant secretary-general said he has never at any point since joining the party as a young graduate colluded with opposition parties to undermine and decampaign elected representatives of the party. He said he believes that delegates are as concerned as he is about the tendency of some of their leaders to work against candidates during election campaigns.
He expects party delegates to be equally concerned about their recent administrative shortfalls, which he believes need a new secretariat leadership. In addition, he said the above factors are critical and believes the delegates will use them to inform themselves of whom to vote into office. He does not think duly elected delegates of the BDP can vote against any of the above factors and attributes. BDP members are calling themselves ‘democrats’ and are going for their elective congress in Tsabong from August 26-28, 2022.
The BDP did not hold its elective congress to choose its central committee (CC) in 2017 but could not do it due to the 2019 general elections. However, it could not hold it in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kario, however, said their team believes firmly that unity is the pedestal for improved electoral fortunes of the BDP and will strive to promote unity under President Masisi's leadership.
“It is not only a cliché but a proven imperative that united we prosper, divided we perish. We believe in an all-inclusive approach that creates room for participation of all our capable and diverse members in the formulation of the party and government policies,” Kario said.
He said there is a need to also enhance our party's administrative capabilities. He added that they would also engage with the leadership and colleagues in government to ensure the party to Government synergies towards a jobs economy.
He continued: “Similarly, as the central committee, we will engage our structures and general membership on ways to improve training and political education of our members as a way to capacitate the party structures to deliver on their mandated duties or roles in a fair, transparent and inclusive manner to ensure the longevity of the party.” Currently, Kario is a member of the BDP Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC).
He served on different committees as a strategy committee member from 2017 till 2022. He was MP from 2004 to 2009, co-authored the training manual called "Domokrag Kgomo ya Motswana", and served as a central committee member in 2008/9, BOMASE (Bobonong, Mmadinare and two Selebi-Phikwe constituencies) regional chair in 2002-2004, National Youth Executive Committee (NYEC) from 1998-2002 initially as an additional member and then vice chairperson from 2000 and also served as a ward secretary at Kopano Ward in Selebi-Phikwe.