BDP youth hopefuls seal compromise deal
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday February 8, 2017 17:34
Mavange and Kgathi were originally billed to contest for the youth wing chairmanship at the elections slated for Tsabong.
Under the compromise deal, which was reached on Monday afternoon in Palapye, Mavange has settled to challenge for the position of chairman while Kgathi will contest for the position of secretary general.
Kgathi’s lobby group has also been given the position of projects and fund raising officer and vice secretary general as well as slots for three of the five available posts of additional members.
Mavange’s team got the position of treasurer, political officer and information officer and two additional member slots.
“We combined a projected number of delegates we feel will vote us (both Mavange and Kgathi) and it totalled above 200. Usually to win the elections, one has to attract around 200 delegates. We felt that combining our teams based on our projected number of votes was an ideal thing to do and could give us an edge over other teams,” Kgathi said in an interview.
Chyna Baleseng, a spokesperson for Kgathi’s team, explained that members who were dropped from the original list drawn by the two teams had not objected to the decision.
“If we win the elections some of them will be given positions within the subcommittees of the central committee,” he said.
He added that members of the two teams will meet in Gaborone to iron out a few outstanding issues he declined to detail.
Modiri Lucas, Mavange’s spokesperson, also confirmed the latest development.
“We also believe that combining the two teams has helped us draw a formidable team that can help us advance the youth agenda,” he said.
The combined Kgathi/Mavange team will face other lobby groups for the youth wing elections. The other teams are led by Thabo Autlwetse, Vuyo Notta, Fox Segwai and Bruce Nkgakile.
Recently, Collin Mochoti’s team was dismantled and joined Autlwetse’s group. The elections will be held to replace youth wing chairman Andy Boatile who has announced that he will not seek a third consecutive term.