Boatile clams up BDP youth league aspirants
Pini Bothoko | Friday January 20, 2017 14:57
Boatile told Mmegi that he has observed with keen interest speculation on social media that one of the seven aspiring youth chairmanship candidate is associating himself with the party chairperson and vice president, Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Boatile stated that the act is wrong because it creates a perception that can mislead other party members.
Recently it was reported that the BDP youth members are engaged in bruising and dirty campaigns.
The seven who have expressed their interest for the position are Vuyo Notta, Thabo Autwetse, Fox Segwai, Ronald Kgathi, Simon Mavange, Collin Mochoti and Bruce Nkgakile.
Khumo Lekoko, Motamma Sesinyi, Tshiamo Lampy Ngake, Tekolo Osego, Toy Wetsho and Thato Mogotsi will contest for the secretary general position.
Boatile said the youth wing chairmanship has intensified and aspiring candidates have started lobbying amongst the members with some doing it the wrong way.
“We all support our elected leadership. No one is more Masisi than the others and aspiring candidates should be cautioned against this behaviour because it is wrong,” said Boatile.
News has been circulating in social media that Masisi is supporting the incumbent secretary general, Simon Mavange because he is lobbying other branches to vote for him when he seeks re-election for the chairman position.
The outgoing chairperson said the ‘culprit’ is doing so just to intimidate others, something which is not right.
He said it should be noted that all the seven aspiring candidates support the leadership and no one is more supportive than others.
“This also shows an element of division amongst the youth. I call for democrats not to vote such a person because it is absolutely nonsense,” said Boatile.
He said aspiring candidates should shun the interference of elders in their affairs.
Boatile added that if there is someone with evidence they should bring it forward so that they can report that candidate.
“Our elections should be left to us. Party elders should just leave us alone because this can divide the party afterwards.
The elections are supposed to build the party towards 2019 not to destroy it,” said the concerned Boatile.
He stated that he fears that if this can continue like this, there will never be peace amongst party members.
Boatile said he fears that the implicated candidate will mislead members in rural areas to vote for him unlike those in urban areas who understand the party leadership better.
It is alleged that party elders are involved in the upcoming youth wing elections because they want to use the candidates during their campaigns for the party elective congress in July.
The youth congress is billed for February 10-11 at Tsabong and Boatile has indicated that he will not seek a third term.
He called on the youth to be ready for the congress and make sure that they are cautious when voting because they will be voting for the team that will lead the party to the 2019 general elections.
“I am calling for the democrats to be free when voting, avoid being intimidated by some people because their vote will mean a lot,” advised Boatile.
Last year it was reported that some candidates were not happy, accusing some of the BDP youth executive committee members of being reluctant to announce the date of the congress deliberately just to disadvantage others from campaigning.
The congress will be held under the theme, ‘Our structures, our strength’.