BDP to shun mekoko
Isaiah Morewagae | Wednesday April 9, 2014 15:01
During the weekend national council meeting, the party resolved to shun mekoko, as independent candidates in the general elections are known.
In the aftermath of their primary elections, otherwise know as Bulela Ditswe, the BDP, for the first time in their 51 years of existence, saw a high number of disgruntled losers declaring their intention to stand as independent candidates or defect to the opposition.
Among the high profile defectors who have decided to challenge the BDP winners in the October general elections is the Member of Parliament for Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency Moeng Pheto. Pheto has declared his intentions to go solo and challenge the BDP primaries winner, Vincent Seretse.
Another high profile defector is the deputy chairperson of the Mahalapye Sub District Neo Mogowe, who plans taking on the Mahalapye East MP, Bothogile Tshireletso.
To ensure the future is not littered with primaries appeals and defections, the national council has resolved that after the general elections, the party leadership should review the Bulela Ditswe rules and regulations.
The BDP gathering has also resolved to back President Ian Khama’s national programmes.
When accepting his mandate to lead BDP in to general elections this year, Khama dismissed his opponents’ criticism of his style of leadership and national projects.
“There are those lost souls in the opposition who in their desperate attempts to discredit me, have out of frustration called me a dictator.
Apparently this arises from the fact that I do not shy away from making decisions,” Khama said.
He said he would not apologise for introducing programmes such as Ipelegeng, Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD), Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) and Youth Empowerment Schemes. He insisted that contrary to his opponents’ position, such projects have significantly improved lives of beneficiaries.