Wayward BCP members face punishment
Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday May 19, 2015 14:24
BCP publicity secretary, Taolo Lucas has said such members are liable to sanctions as contained in the party’s disciplinary code. During the President’s Day holidays, the BCP will hold its elective congress at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School in Kanye. “Canvassing for support for internal party elections should be decent, civil and comradely. Party structures should not publicly endorse candidates but instead use internal structures to show support. Denigrating other party members through any media is not accepted,” warned Lucas.
He said party regulations embrace openness, transparency and dialogue between members but that should be done in a manner that shows respect and observance of established decorum within the organisation. “Party members who do not observe the rules and regulations of canvassing for support are liable to sanctions as contained in the party’s disciplinary code.”
Lucas who is eyeing the position of the vice president said the congress would be significant for two reasons. “First it is the first after the 2014 general elections. Second it will be the first conference conducted using the party’s revised new constitution. As the first conference after the general elections, a comprehensive report on the outcome of the 2014 election shall be placed before party members for discussion and debate. As the first conference conducted using the new constitution, it is in order to highlight that as per the said constitution, there shall be only seven positions that shall be contested,” he said. In the new dispensation, the BCP will have a president, vice-president, chairman, secretary general, deputy secretary general, treasurer and publicity secretary. The other members of the central committee will include presidents of the youth and women league, chairpersons of regional committees, representative of councillors and a representative of MPs.
In preparation for the July congress, the BCP has revised and adopted regulations for the conduct of elections for its central committee. Lucas said the regulations are meant to ensure order in elections. “The regulations stipulate among other things that nomination to positions of the central committee shall be done by properly constituted constituency committees.”
The delegates to the congress shall be elected at ward meetings. Each ward is expected to select five members to represent it at the national congress. “According to the regulations adopted at Mahalapye, those who wish to contest for positions at the congress should start canvassing for support 60 days before the elective conference and nominations from constituencies should have reached the Party central office 30 days before the conference,” he said.
Meanwhile BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando and treasurer, Dennis Alexander are unopposed so far in their bid for re-election. If there is no compromise for the position of vice president, Lucas is likely to face-off with Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang.
The BCP secretary-general has not made up his mind about the contest but has not ruled out the possibility of taking on Lucas. Other positions that are likely to be contested are that of secretary general as former Kanye North MP, Kentse Rammidi squares up with Philip Monowe. Incumbent, Motsei Rapelana is facing a challenge from James Olesitse in the race for the chairmanship.
In the last elective congress, Rapelana comfortably defeated Olesitse. Former youth leader, Dithapelo Keorapetse is campaigning for the position of publicity secretary.