BNF internal elections face challenges

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 5, 2025 09:05

This recurring challenge, particularly the confusion around the voters' roll, continues to disrupt internal democracy within the party. Throughout the three congresses, the Women’s League, Youth League, and the main party central committee elections, disputes over access to the voters' roll and allegations that certain members were deliberately removed from the rolls dominated proceedings. The concerns have not only cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the results but also sparked tensions in various constituencies.

Had the BNF established a functional elections committee beforehand, many of the disputes could have been avoided. A properly structured electoral board would have ensured that voter rolls were prepared well in advance, properly verified, and made accessible to members and delegates before each congress.

Currently, the responsibility lies heavily on the office administration, which is overstretched and ill-equipped to manage this critical task alone.

In addition to managing the voter roll, a designated elections committee would allow office administrators to focus on their core duties, particularly issuing membership cards and confirming delegate eligibility. This division of roles would bring order and accountability, streamlining the entire electoral process. Moreover, concerns over “rented” delegates, individuals allegedly recruited shortly before congresses to bolster numbers for specific factions, could be addressed more effectively with proper electoral checks. These last-minute recruits reportedly disappear after congresses, never to be seen participating in party structures again.

Speaking at the recent elective congress, party president Duma Boko bluntly said: “The issue of recruiting new members to come and vote in internal party elections must stop. These members never get traced or participate in party activities after Congress. This is not good for the party. There are a lot of new members here.” Boko's remarks resonated with many within the party who feel that internal processes are being compromised in favour of short-term political gains.

Strengthening electoral protocols, Boko argued, would preserve the party’s democratic integrity. However, it became evident that the absence of clear processes recently led to serious complications. In some instances, parallel delegations emerged within the same constituencies, prompting Boko himself to step in and mediate disputes.

Notably, constituencies such as Bobirwa, Okavango, and others were eventually disqualified from participating in the voting process due to unresolved disagreements over delegate legitimacy. This crisis of confidence in the voters' roll has now become a recurring theme, even during the party’s primary elections in 2023, and similar problems have surfaced.

Members often complain that they are kept in the dark about their voting status until the last minute. In some extreme cases, tensions boiled over, with frustrated members reportedly threatening to lock office staff inside party headquarters to demand access to the voters' roll. While ad hoc solutions were found to calm tempers, often spearheaded by the electoral board, many members remained excluded and their grievances unresolved.

Clear, transparent guidelines on internal elections are not only overdue but essential to preserving unity and fairness. Observers within the party warn that continued disorganisation could result in long-term damage. “When people begin to feel that their participation is being undermined or manipulated, they lose faith in the leadership and in the processes,” said a senior party member who preferred anonymity. “We can’t keep going in circles every congress,” the member said. President Boko has acknowledged some of these systemic failings.

Addressing delegates, he raised concern over the ongoing backlog in issuing membership cards. He emphasized the need for updated records and verification tools. “We need to prove that people are indeed our members,” he stated, urging administrative reforms and faster turnaround in card processing. In light of these challenges, calls are growing louder within the BNF for structural reforms that would professionalise how the party conducts its internal elections.

However, some have made suggestions, including digitalising the membership database, setting fixed timelines for voter roll publication, and instituting a permanent electoral body with a clear mandate.

The congress also resolved that the powers of the voters' roll should not be on the party Secretary General, as the constitution states.

And that clear processes will help with internal unity, credibility, and administrative readiness will be key to the party’s performance, not only within its own ranks but also in the eyes of the broader electorate. Furthermore, they said it will help to reduce disputes that normally arise during primary elections.