BDP youth push for more seats in Parliament, councils
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday June 7, 2018 16:42
The youth wing has submitted motions before party extra ordinary congress that will be held on Friday. The extra ordinary congress will be addressed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“We are concerned about representation of youth in both council and Parliament seat. If there is a quota in both council and Parliament seats, then the number of youth representation will increase. Some youth are disadvantaged by lack of resources in the primary elections. Even though youth representation in council seat in 2014 general elections was impressive but the number was not satisfactory,” an insider said.
The motion is expected to be debated tomorrow after BDP secretary general report.
The other motion youth wing will table calls for standardisation fees for youth when tendering for government jobs.
“Youth are complaining that the process of tendering for government is very expensive and therefore it gives old people who have long been into business to stand a good chance than them. Their concern is that youth are losing interest in tendering because of the expense they encounter,” the source said.
The youth also proposes that the student allowance be increased from P1400.00 to P1900.00 because the standard of living is high.
Youth wing want the issue to be addressed urgently.
BDP communication chairperson, Lesedi Dintwe confirmed that youth wing have brought motions that would be discussed at the congress.
He said some of the things that would be discussed include some of the resolutions that were taken on 37th national congress in Tonota and 55 national council.
Some of the resolutions taken by national council include the amendment of Primary Elections Regulation number 9 (f) be accepted, the hand over guidelines as presented by Secretary General be endorsed, terms of reference of the Electoral Board be accepted as presented, national Council applauds the Central Committee for its initiative and effort of translating the party constitution into Setswana, party members who defy both parliamentary and council caucuses be disciplined and the rules and regulations should be separated from the Party Constitution.
The ruling party members are expected to deliberate on how rules and regulations should be separated from the party constitution and party attorneys are tasked to look into the matter.
One of the resolutions was that the constitution, rules and regulations of the party should be updated and corrected to address inconsistencies and typological errors.
The members are expected to discuss about issues of corruption and maladministration that sometimes tarnish their party name.
On governmental issues, the BDP members had earlier requested the Ministry of Education to reduce from six months to 90 days the length of time given to a student to return to school after giving birth.
The Minister of Education would give the congress feed back on the matter on whether they had already changed or not or advise on how the policy could change.
BDP had also taken a resolution that the Ministry of Lands and Housing make it mandatory for Land Boards to hold regular meetings with communities to give them feedback on issues related to lands.
And to request the government to speed up the review of all empowerment programmes.
On congress resolutions, majority of them had been implemented except the one in which they want emerging patterns of intolerance, all party structures to be engaged in team building initiatives with view to promoting unity.