Tonota braces for crunch BDP congress
Ryder Gabathuse | Thursday July 6, 2017 18:46
Voting for the party leadership is expected to take the formation of the party’s current factions of Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Cabinet Minister Nonofo Molefhi.
The party’s Francistown region chairperson, Baemedi Medupe is elated that all is set for the party to congregate at the Tonota College of Education (TCE) grounds where a large marquee is being erected to host the event's official opening. Medupe and his team have made all pertinent arrangements including requesting the local health clinics and the business community to take advantage of the windfall from the BDP congress.
Tonota constituency, which is part of the bigger party Francistown region, is expected to host delegates from the 57 constituencies or 14 regions of the BDP.
Although Medupe is not privy to the contents of the speech by President Ian Khama, who will be addressing the congress for the last time at the helm as both party and state president, the former expects the latter to thank the party to have shown confidence in him through his two terms.
“Most importantly, Khama enjoyed the support of the entire party whilst at the helm as no one ever challenged him for the presidency,” said Medupe matter-of-factly.
By Medupe’s standard, Khama could also thank BDP diehards for helping him lead a party that is not giving him headache. Medupe’s observation comes in the midst of factional fights that have gripped the ruling party across the 57 constituencies.
Medupe however, conceded that Khama might be forced to address the congress on the worrying regression of the popular vote, which in the 2014 general election stood at 46.7% for the first time since Independence in 1966.
“Unity of purpose, is one area that obviously will come up in his speech so that going forward, the party remains a united force.”
Medupe prayed the party elections would not divide the ruling party but rather unite it more and more. He wished to see the party very united to the extent that those elected should enjoy universal acceptance across the party.
Medupe is on the programme where he will take advantage of the opportunity to reiterate on party unity.
Francistown is one of the BDP regions that last year collapsed economically following the closure of the Tati Nickel Mine and its parent BCL Mine, which have left thousands directly and indirectly jobless. Besides, the Francistown region is very volatile and crippled by bitter factionalism.
“I am particularly concerned by youth unemployment, which is one of the issues closest to my heart.
So, I will take advantage to talk about these realities at the congress,” said Medupe. The official opening ceremony, which is open to the public, will be done at the TCE grounds before the party goes into closed sessions to discuss pertinent party business.Party members who qualify to be delegates include, Members of Parliament, councillors, chairpersons and secretaries from regions and constituencies, eight delegates from constituencies, central committee members, six executive members of the National Youth Executive Committee (NYEC) and six executive committee members from the party Women’s Wing.