Khama to address Gaborone region
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday November 3, 2015 16:18
The move comes after BDP members accused the party leadership of distancing itself from party structures. The feeling is that the party was not doing well in general elections because the central committee was aloof from the general membership.
According to a source, Khama announced at the central committee meeting that he would be visiting the Gaborone region to update them on the progress and challenges. He will be in the company of some members of the central committee.
“The central committee has taken a decision that it should keep on checking if their party structures are there or not. It can only do that by visiting those structures and also by inviting some structures to give updates on party progress at their regions. Some regions have been invited by the central committee to give updates during their meetings. Remember, during the BDP national council and at the congress, the party president complained that some structures had collapsed,” the source said.
At the meeting, the president will ask for suggestions and the region will be asked to give updates and what they think can be done to win some constituencies back. Another source within the party said the Bonnington North constituency met last Wednesday ahead of the president’s pending visit.
“Gaborone Bonnington North constituency wants the 2014 general elections to be discussed since they believe that the party had contributed to their loss. Members feel that their constituency was sabotaged and the launch of their candidate was not given support like other constituencies,” the source said.
The source further revealed that the Gaborone Central constituency will meet on Thursday to discuss what they want to be included on the agenda.
“This will not be our first meeting. We did not agree in our last meeting because some members want the issue of Tsholetsa House tendering to be discussed.
Some even raised the issue of the suspension of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi, which they think was not properly explained to them. We hope our Thursday meeting will bear fruits,” the source stressed.
The source further said Gaborone Central has been one of the constituencies that was known to be controlled by the barata-phathi faction within the BDP.
Meanwhile BDP communications chairman, Thapelo Pabalinga, confirmed that it is true the BDP president will be addressing the Gaborone region over the weekend.
“He has been addressing different regions together with some members of the central committee.
The central committee is doing general consultations as a way of building the party. He wants to know what they are achieving and the problems they are facing. He has already visited regions like BOMASE, Kgalagadi and Francistown. It’s true some regions were invited to present during the central committee meetings,” Pabalinga confirmed.