BMDYL national congress postponed
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday April 25, 2017 16:46
The BMD youth league congress was supposed to be held on Saturday in Ramotswa.
Some of the reasons advanced by the current committee are that, “The Secretariat of the BMDYL NEC has not received minutes and delegation list from Branches, striking the fear of not being able to reach the 29 Constituencies threshold necessary for the Congress to form a quorum.
The NEC is inundated with complaints of flawed Branch Congresses which will see most branches bringing parallel delegations to the Congress - a precedence that must not be allowed to see the light of day,” BMDYL secretary Tolerance Itumeleng in a joint press release he signed with Phenyo Segokgo.
He said the BMDYL NEC would do everything in its power to avert a Constitutional mess by employing more efforts in ensuring compliance with guidelines as bold as they are in the Constitution.
In their press release, the BMDYL said their NEC of the Youth League has been successful in mobilising at least half the resources needed to deliver seamless congress.
Interestingly, the other team which is known as #Itlhabanele and believed to be supported by BMD president, Ndaba Gaolathe, says the congress would go as planned.
“The branches are ready and prepared to go to Ramotswa. More than 35 constituencies are submitting their minutes today (Monday) as agreed.
The deadline is today and again the quorum can only be determined by the congress not imaginary thoughts. We are aware that the youth league only met Wednesday last week not on 22 as stated in their press release,” Jacob Kelebeng who is contesting for BMDYL presidency said.
However the outgoing committee of the youth league maintains that only 16 constituencies brought minutes and names of delegates.
“We are aware that some constituencies have held branch congresses, but the names of delegates and minutes of the meeting were not brought to the secretary general’s office by some members who wanted to sabotage the congress,” Itumeleng said.
Meanwhile, BMDYL chairperson for Gaborone North Mbakanyi Taka has called upon his MP area Haskins Nkaigwa and area councillors to unite and cooperate for the sake of the party.
Nkaigwa and some of his area councillors have not been working together after having a dispute on Sidney Pilane’s membership.
“ There is no need to fight amongst us. The biggest enemy for us is the ruling party, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The fight amongst ourselves had led to collapse of our structures especially BMDYL including cells and branches. I urge MP to call his councillors so that they map the way forward,” Taka said on Saturday at Maharaja during their constituency workshop.
He said BMD Gaborone North constituency has dominated last year’s newspaper headlines for wrong reasons.
Taka said there is need for all party members to unite and cooperate for 2019.