Rammidi calls for rethinking of BDP’s Bulela Ditswe
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday May 26, 2025 16:23
While many believe that the system, popularly known as Bulela-Ditswe, is flawed and breeds division, he asserts that the concept is not inherently problematic.
In an interview with Mmegi recently, he instead contended that the challenges stem from how the system is implemented, not its structure or purpose.
During a closed session at a recent party gathering, outgoing secretary-general, Ngaka Ngaka, presented a report in which he highlighted the contentious nature of the current primary elections system.
According to Ngaka, Bulela-Ditswe has in many cases sowed seeds of conflict amongst party members.
He explained that after losing in the primaries, some members become disillusioned and in certain instances, go as far as shifting their loyalty to opposition parties. This, he argued, indicates a fundamental flaw that cannot be ignored.
Moreover, Ngaka acknowledged that Bulela-Ditswe system, although designed to promote internal democracy, is not without its hiccups.
He said if the party intends to maintain its unity and electoral strength, it must critically examine and possibly reform the primary elections system.
His concern was echoed by several party members who expressed frustrations with the apparent lack of fairness and transparency in the current model. In contrast, Rammidi, while agreeing that the execution of the system needs significant improvements, remains a staunch defender of the principle behind Bulela-Ditswe.
For him, the system is a vital democratic tool that ensures that power lies in the hands of ordinary party members, not just within the party elites.
However, he admitted that the processes must become more transparent and inclusive to ensure credibility and trust amongst all stakeholders.
“The problem is not Bulela Ditswe itself, but how it is administered,” Rammidi told Mmegi.
“At times, the processes are compromised simply because those tasked with overseeing them are not adequately equipped or prepared.”
To address these concerns, he proposed that the party must prioritise early and thorough preparation for internal elections.
Rammidi noted this would allow the elections board ample time to resolve issues before they escalate.
He argued that equipping election officials with proper training and resources would significantly enhance the efficiency and integrity of the election process.
“Transparency is key,” he said. “If people are well-trained and understand the sensitivity of elections, then we will be able to run free and fair primaries. This will reduce the number of complaints and improve trust in the outcome.”
One recurring issue that Rammidi identified is the secrecy surrounding the voters' roll.
In his view, making the voters' roll openly accessible to all contestants and stakeholders would eliminate many disputes that usually arise during the election period.
By removing doubts and suspicions about who is eligible to vote, the process would become more credible and acceptable to all parties involved, he said.
Another key point raised by Rammidi is the relevance of the Bulela-Ditswe code of conduct. While some critics have called for a complete overhaul, he believes the existing code remains in line with current democratic norms and expectations.
Nevertheless, the secretary-general admitted that the implementation of the code requires more consistency and integrity across all levels of the party.
Furthermore, Rammidi cautioned against the tendency of the central committee (CC) to handpick candidates, often bypassing the will of grassroots members.
He noted that when the CC imposes candidates, the outcome is usually rejection by the electorate, resulting in unnecessary divisions and electoral losses.
According to him, it is essential that the people are the ones who choose their representatives, adding that any deviation from this principle undermines the very foundation of internal party democracy.
“It is time we reflect seriously on this issue,” he said. “If we truly believe in democracy, then we must allow our members to decide who should lead them.”
BDP’s general code of conduct of the party primaries stipulates that; candidates must always promote the interest of the party and portray themselves as agents of the party and that candidates shall not use their campaigns to castigate competitors.
It also states that all party structures shall be impartial and not support any one candidate to the detriment of others, the branch committee shall take responsibility to facilitate and create an atmosphere conducive to party unity and foster a cordial working relationship between primary elections winner an unsuccessful candidates, pre and post primary elections celebrations of any kind are prohibited.
However, it is stipulated that members of the party structures shall not be members of campaign teams of any candidate prior to the primary elections.
Furthermore, all candidates’ campaign teams shall stand dissolved immediately after primary elections to allow for the establishment of constituency and ward campaign teams.
As for the CC and regional committees, all prospective candidates shall resign from party structure positions at a date to be determined by the CC.