BDP gears up for Bulela Ditswe
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday October 4, 2022 06:00
He told The Monitor on Saturday that the PEEC is only waiting for the party's central committee (CC) to announce the dates. “Things shifted due to COVID-19. If it were not for COVID-19, we would have started it. Membership registration for our party has not been closed.
It should be clear that our system is very different from the Independent Electoral Committee's (IEC).
Every member has a right to lure people to the party,” Seametso said. “It is wrong to be registering people when dates for primaries have been announced.
Our party needs members all the time not only during the primaries.
Therefore, for us, primaries can be held at any time because members are always there. The only crucial thing is vetting as we require those who want to contest for party primary elections to submit their names.” He, however, advised BDP members, who call themselves ‘democrats’, to start membership registration since only registered members will be eligible to vote.
In addition, Seametso said he believes that primaries will start next year since 2022 is about to come to an end but they are still waiting for CC’s guidance on the matter. He said what is important is for the process to be followed.
According to the BDP constitution, the vetting process for one to be eligible to be a candidate starts at the branch level then a recommendation is made to the CC for approval or disapproval of such person as a candidate for such an election.
Therefore, all prospective candidates who have been vetted and approved shall be eligible to stand as candidates in the primary election which they were vetted for. Qualities considered include the candidate’s integrity, personality, commitment to the party, ability to represent the party and the public if elected, and all other qualifications and disqualifications under the electoral laws of the country.