BDP’s Sefophe vetting process queried

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 7, 2026 09:28

New information shows the organisation’s candidate vetting process left members divided ahead of the forthcoming by-election, which comes shortly following the death of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) councillor. What was expected to be a routine process of selecting candidates for the party primaries has instead opened another front of internal discontent. Some members are already questioning the decision to approve only two of the five applicants who expressed interest in contesting the party’s primary elections. Following the exercise, only Same Senkanang-Dishoto and Barulaganye Moloi are the two candidates who have been cleared to contest, while the other three applicants have been left out of the race.

The decision has reportedly not gone down well with some party members, who are questioning the basis on which the applicants were vetted. They also want to understand why those who were unsuccessful were not given reasons for their exclusion, a development that has also triggered claims of favouritismin the local party structures. Some members allegedly believe that the leadership has preferred certain candidates over others and more worrying for the BDP, however, are claims that the dispute could spill over into the by-election itself. A source said some disgruntled members had threatened not to support the former ruling party in the forthcoming by-election, arguing that the vetting process had been unfair. “Party members are angry with the decision made by the party’s central committee, more so because there are no reasons given for such a decision. “We wonder if members will even come to the meeting which is scheduled to be held this week,” the source said.

The source claimed that the anger was not necessarily directed at the two approved candidates, but at the manner in which the vetting process was handled. According to the person familiar with the processes, some members want the party leadership to explain the criteria used to determine who qualified to proceed to the primaries. “There are people who feel that others have been favoured by the party leadership. The problem is that members do not understand why some were approved while others were rejected,” the source added. The claims come at an uncomfortable time for the BDP, which needs to mobilise its structures and unite members ahead of the by-election. Instead, the vetting process appears to have exposed fault lines that could complicate the party’s campaign if they are not addressed quickly.

Nevertheless, BDP executive secretary, Ame Makoba confirmed on Tuesday that the party leadership is aware of the concerns and was preparing to engage members in the area. Makoba said members of the central committee, led by the party’s secretary-general, will travel to Sefophe to meet party members in a meeting scheduled for this week. The planned meeting could therefore provide a crucial opportunity for the central committee to explain its position, listen to members’ concerns and prevent the dispute from escalating. He, however, defended the authority of the central committee to determine which applicants qualify to contest the party’s primary elections. “We cannot give the reason for vetting out members. The central committee has the power to vet out members.

Party primary elections have rules and regulations. All party members are guided by the party constitution, even the central committee,” Makoba explained. His response, however, leaves unanswered questions about how the vetting decisions were reached and whether unsuccessful applicants will be provided with detailed explanations. While the party maintains that the central committee acted within its constitutional mandate, the discontent amongst members points to a wider challenge being the need for transparency when making decisions that directly affect internal elections. Primary elections are often fiercely contested because they determine who will carry the party’s banner into the main electoral battle. Consequently, disputes surrounding candidate selection can easily turn into broader struggles for influence within local party structures.

For the BDP, Sefophe could therefore, become more than a contest between Senkanang-Dishoto and Moloi. It could also become a test of the leadership’s ability to manage disgruntlement amongst members who feel excluded from the process. Those who feel aggrieved may withdraw from campaign activities, while supporters of rejected candidates could become reluctant to throw their weight behind the eventual winner. However, Makoba urged members of the party to put their differences aside and concentrate on the by-election. “Members should unite for the party to win the by-election,” he added.

For the approved candidates, meanwhile, the political challenge extends beyond winning the primary elections. They will have to build bridges with members who supported the rejected applicants and convince them to remain committed to the party.