Clock ticks for Bulela Ditswe
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday April 15, 2024 06:00
This could lead to a chaotic campaign season with candidates rushing to prepare with little time ahead for protests should the primaries outcomes leave a trail of contentions in their wake. Mmegi has learnt that the ruling party’s central committee (CC) already has 4, 000 applications to look into as part of its vetting process.
The CC started the vetting process this week to select those who will be competing for the primary elections. The process is expected to end on Friday (today). This, however, could damage the BDP’s image and hurt its chances for winning leading up to the General Election. It is unusual for the BDP to hold primary elections so close to a General Election. In the past, the BDP typically held its primaries a year before the General Election, particularly in opposition held constituencies. This in the past had given the BDP more time to campaign, while their rivals had less time to prepare.
While opposition parties have their challenges, they have already begun unveiling their candidates for specific constituencies. This has given candidates an advantage in terms of name recognition and early campaigns, while the BDP’s candidates are still waiting to be chosen. This disparity in preparedness could make it difficult for the BDP to compete effectively. However, the BDP spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse, said yesterday: “The BDP is a fluid organisation like football. For the past four years, our primary elections known as Bulela Ditswe have been held at different times.
This is part of our strategic plan and we do not have any regret about how things are unfolding. We have conducted research and this is part of an action plan. In fact, we are happy as our plan is going well. All appeals will be attended to but they will not derail us from our plan.” He said in the last three months, the BDP will be going all out to campaign forcefully. Furthermore, Kentse said they are very confident that they will identify credible candidates. He also said there are norms and practices, therefore, the BDP CC has not gone against its constitution on primary elections but it has come out with a solid plan that will benefit the party. Kentse stated that the party CC could not communicate its strategy or share it with members as they would leak it to opponents. He said they knew what they wanted when screening candidates.
He stressed that if their strategic plan could unfold properly as per the action plan, then the party will win with high numbers. Kentse said he is optimistic that the BDP is going to win the 2024 General election with flying colours. Meanwhile, a letter purportedly written to the BDP president Mokgweetsi Masisi by Gaborone region dated April 9, 2024, reads in part: "The state of the region as we go to election is very volatile, and needs due care and a winning strategy to successfully retain the Gaborone region, for this to happen Gaborone region recommends as follows; that Gaborone North constituency go to the primary elections because the incumbent Mpho Balopi will not be contesting. Gaborone Central, Gaborone South, Gaborone Bonnington South and Gaborone Bonnington North constituency Members of Parliament's primaries be waived and not go for primary elections.
That Member of Parliament applicants be reimbursed their application fees except the incumbents.” In the same letter written by the Gaborone region chairperson, Lebogang Motsope, the latter states that the region has requested for books to be sealed off and these are for three constituencies Gaborone Central, Gaborone Bonnington South and Gaborone North.
The letter says this was due to the anomalies stated in the region's letter to the executive secretary on March 25, 2024. Motsope also states that there has not been any special dispensation for mass registration in Gaborone and given the time remaining to go to the primaries, it may not be feasible to efficiently register members, issue membership cards and be ready for the primary elections. Additionally, the region's chairperson said members who made applications for membership, no membership cards have been issued and their membership is pending.
The region said they have noted serious concerns that could potentially harm the unity of the party, and be a causal effect to losing party votes, and these continue to unfortunately ensue on the ground. It cited the evidence of misconduct, gathered and reported to the committee post the release of member registration books to the region constituencies. Gaborone constituencies are usually unpredictable during the polls as in the past they were held by opposition parties. In the 2019 General Election, the BDP won all of the five constituencies. Now, the region has made a plea to the President that the constituencies should not go for primary elections as they want to retain them with the same candidates.