BMD cooks figures

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday November 24, 2017 18:13

 

The party leadership is concerned that they might make minimal representation at the congress and are ready to apply dirty tactics including submitting a database made of members who have left the party.

The party leadership has always maintained that they have numbers, denying that the Ndaba Gaolathe-led faction left with more members than those who remained. Mmegi has it in good authority that the party secretary general, Gilbert Mangole has instructed his deputy, Tseleng Botlhole to come up with a database comprising all members, including the dead.

Mangole is said to have told Botlhole that she should mobilise a team to help her build a database and use even old application forms regardless of whether the people are alive or dead. Mangole allegedly said that was the only way they could survive.

“This is a matter of survival. Our database should be up to date. The old forms should be included in the current database in all 57 constituencies,” Mangole is alleged to have said.

However, Mangole also believes that the November 30 deadline will not be practical. According to a source close to the events, the BMD is likely to request for deadline extension because they are preparing for their December 3 congress.

The UDC National Executive Committee is supposed to meet on November 30 over the issue of delegates.  The UDC constitution Clause 11.2.2 says each group member, in good standing with the Umbrella, is entitled to send one delegate for every 750 members or part thereof provided that of these delegates are members of their organisation.  Mangole denied that they intended to cook numbers to reach their previous BMD membership.

“It is true we have received a letter from UDC to bring an updated membership list. But what people are saying that we will include people who have gone is a big lie. Indeed we are preparing our database to know how many have gone and those who are members. Our party is trying its best to comply with the UDC requirements. People have sinister motives to always want to see our party in papers for the wrong reasons,” Mangole said.  The UDC vice president, Dumelang Saleshando confirmed that they have written to all UDC affiliates to submit their updated membership figures and reminded them what UDC constitution says on the issue of delegates.  When questioned how they willl verify that indeed each party had submitted accurate figures, Saleshando said: “We will have to trust that the parties will submit up-to-date registers. I am not aware that BMD is planning to cook its numbers, and what will it achieve from doing that?”

In his letter that he has written to parties, Saleshando said: “You will further be required to prepare a list of those of your members which you wish to be delegates at the UDC national constitutional congress for purposes of accreditation and credentials of delegates. The delegates list should be submitted by January 22, 2018”.

Saleshando said the November meeting will determine the numbers of delegates at the UDC national constitutional congress for purposes of accreditation.