Why Masisi wants the BDP chair?

Ryder Gabathuse | Friday July 7, 2017 16:00

 

Should he (Masisi) abandon the bid to seek reelection for the party chairpersonship and concentrate on the vice presidency until he earnestly assumes the party and state Presidency next April 1, it might cost him a fortune.

Although the BDP chairpersonship is viewed as a ceremonial position with the bulk of the work done by the party president, the chairman gets an opportunity to feel the pulse of the people by closely interacting with the party structures across the 57 constituencies.

Masisi’s bid to dabble as party chairman and Vice President is not unprecedented as President Ian Khama in 2003 (vice president then) challenged former vice president Ponatshego Kedikilwe in Gantsi for the chairmanship position and won it.

Party dynamics could have changed but the principle, which Masisi uses to remain in control of the party and endear himself to the party structures, remains the same.  President Khama has declared his solid support behind his deputy Masisi just as former president Festus Mogae threw his support behind Khama who was his deputy in 2003 going to Gantsi.

Masisi is reported to have ignored all the counsel discouraging him to defend his position in Tonota where a Cabinet colleague Nonofo Molefhi is set to give him a run for his money. He knows very well that simply giving away such an important position could compromise his standing in the party.

Masisi has chosen to take the risk to defend the chairmanship against a strong contender, Molefhi knowing very well that he has a lot to do to cement his leadership of the party. Political commentator Anthony Morima concurs that Masisi has read the situation very well not to abandon his bid for the chairmanship re-election.

“He wants to have total control over the party. Being the party chairman will help him assert his control of the party,” analyses Morima adding that there is a danger if he chooses to abandon responsibility as that could reduce his control of the party.

It is actually very important that in the transition period from April 1, 2018 until 2019 general election, Masisi be able to assert himself.  Morima says if Masisi can have a secretary general of his choice to control both the party and its secretariat, it will give him total control of the party. “It may sound selfish to us but politics is all about being selfish sometimes,” Morima notes.