Presidential race for BDP intensifies
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday February 12, 2016 15:33
Some of the BDP Gaborone youth members are agitating for the move. Much of the debate at the Mosu conference will centre around the suggestions that the presidential election be moved to 2017 from 2019, in order to allow time to campaign and popularise the candidate.
The BDP Youth Wing is holding its inaugural youth council today at Mosu, and this will be discussed under party issues. The recommendations of the youth council will then be forwarded to the party national council that is scheduled for April. In addition, the BDP youth are of the view that the move could curb tensions and factionalism ahead of campaigns for the 2019 general elections.
The BDP National Youth Executive Committee chairperson, Andy Boatile, did not deny that the presidential election debate is on their agenda. “I am shocked that some Gaborone youth members brought the matter to newspapers before they could discuss it with us. But the issue will fall under party issues where the youth will be required to make suggestions on issues that they feel could be changed or improved. This is the first youth council and there is a way in which issues will be debated. We don’t want issues that are discussed the whole day,” said Boatile. He said their recommendations would then be forwarded to the party national council for appraisal.
“The youth wing does not have powers but it makes recommendations. The issue will be discussed if they bring it up. Our council is meant to empower youth and they are the ones again who can help the party to improve,” he said.
However some BDP members feel that the youth council could be used as a campaigning tool to endorse party chairperson and vice president Mokgweetsi Masisi for presidency in 2019.
Masisi is ahead with his campaign for the party presidency and he seems to be enjoying the support of some MPs and cabinet ministers due to the reluctance of other candidates to declare their interest. Despite this, other candidates are already accusing him of benefitting from his incumbency position.
But the game according to sources, is likely to change if the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology; Nonofho Molefhi, former ambassador to the USA; Tebelelo Seretse, Ambassador to Japan; Jacob Nkate, among others enter the race.
“The game of politics changes every day. You can only declare that you are the winner on the eve of elections after you become sure that the majority of delegates are yours. If Molefhi can declare that indeed he has interest to contest for the party presidency, then the game will definitely change.
Remember that he was once voted by 33 MPs in their caucus to be a vice president but they reached a compromise after President Ian Khama told them about the person he had suggested,” the source said.
In addition, the source said if Molefhi declares his interest, then there is likelihood of a North/South division in the party because some members feel that the northern people are the ones who have been party presidents for the longest time.
“The thing is, Molefhi has supporters within the party across all factions, that is the reason why some members want former party chairperson Daniel Kwelagobe to talk to both Molefhi and Masisi. Our party could be hit by divisions if the two stand against each other. Even in the WhatsApp social group, which is called mass, one can see that Molefhi has support. The mass group is not an official party group but is joined by MPs, councillors and party structures. Some MPs and cabinet ministers who used to support Masisi could easily go to the Molefhi camp,” the source revealed.
The source said other contestants are likely to support Molefhi and withdraw their candidatures.
Tebelelo Seretse
The former minister and ambassador has declared her candidacy for the number one position. “It is true I will be contesting for party presidency. I haven’t started campaigning or informing BDP members because there is still time. My campaigns will start at the right time. I need to strategise, I will not just start campaigning without my road map.”
Although Seretse has lost twice when campaigning for the party chairmanship, one cannot take her as a lightweight looking at the numbers of delegates that usually vote for her.
She is one of the few women who know ground work politics and can stand her ground without being shaken when she contests against men. Some BDP members still believe that she could bring change in the party leadership. She will be the first woman to challenge a man for the party presidency just like she was the first woman in 2010, who fought for the chairmanship.
Jacob Nkate
The Botswana ambassador to Japan is non-committal about his ambition. “I am not yet at liberty to talk about Botswana politics. I respect the position I am in, will only speak about political issues after I have quit my post.”
However, there are some democrats who call themselves ‘Friends of Nkate’ who have started campaigning for him. These people meet every Sunday to strategise quietly on how they can kick-start their campaigns. In the BDP, there are some people who still believe in Nkate’s leadership despite the blunders he was accused of in the past. One newspaper once commented that Nkate and blunders are like Siamese twins.
Nonofho Molefhi
The minister politely declined to discuss his ambition for the presidency. “I cannot comment on that issue,” he said. Even though the minister refused to comment, Mmegi has learnt that some BDP members are lobbying for him to throw in his name. Some have already approached him, though it is not clear whether he has accepted to stand. Their belief is, Molefhi could bring stability to the party.