BDP reviews Bulela Ditswe
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday February 12, 2015 13:11
Led by former minister of Local Government Peter Siele, the team is expected to start working on February 21. The chairman for the communication sub committee Shaw Kgathirevealed this yesterday, at a press briefing.
“The commission will work together with the Communication Committee, and Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC). The three sub committees will meet each region to get feedback that will form part of their report. We had asked each branch committee to liaise with the region about issues concerning elections,” Kgathi said.
He said it might take them two or three months for the three sub committees to compile a full report.
“These various congresses and other meetings give us the opportunity as a party to reflect and introspect following the highly competitive general elections in our country last year. We are plotting a very strong comeback, which we believe is still relevant and supported by most of the people in Botswana,” Kgathi said.
He assured BDP members that they can still reclaim the seats they lost to the opposition in the 2014 election, noting that they did that in 2004.
On other issues, Kgathi said the national congress for the youth wing that was held in Masunga had been successful.
“We are presently preparing for the national council next month, the Women’s Wing congress will be held in April in Lobatse, while National congress is going to be held in Mmadinare,” he said.
He said they sometimes face challenges of indiscipline from members who are vying for positions in the party for the forthcoming congresses.
Kgathi said political rivalry that sometimes does develop amongst members within their party need to be managed.
“We will take action against members who attack or use any form of dirty campaigns for party positions,” he said.
The BDP 2013 primaries - Bulela Ditswe - has been blamed by many for the party’s poor performance. Members who felt hard done by the primaries have complained of the party conflict resolution mechanisms, and that some people disregarded laid down laws to favour their preferred candidates.
In turn, many of the Bulela Ditswe victims, and their followers voted for opposition parties to punish the BDP leadership. President Ian Khama admitted at the youth congress over the weekend that his party performed badly due to disgruntlement of the membership.