Bcp Youth league Snubs Youth Council

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday February 11, 2010 00:00

The conference, which will be officiated by Bakgatla Kgosi Kgafela II, is expected to take place in Francistown over the Easter holidays.

BCPYL spokesperson, Seabelo Thekiso said that they have decided to bar the BNYC from attending their meeting after former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) executive officer Fidelis Molao was appointed to head the organisation. There was an uproar last year when Molao was announced as the new BNYC director.

Opposition parties accused the ruling party of using the youth organisation as a launching pad for grooming BDP leaders.

'Usually the league used to invite officials from the BNYC, but we have since decided to snub the youth organisation after the apparent nepotistic hiring of the current director, who served previously as BDP's assistant executive secretary,' said Thekiso. For his part, Molao said the BCPYL decision to snub them 'is misguided and unfortunate'. He said the organisers are denying the league's youth an opportunity to interact with the BNYC and share their concerns with the council.

'I am not here as a BDP director. I am here for all the youth of Botswana and I would help anyone regardless of party affiliation.

At the moment I am drawing up a plan to reach out to the youth and engage them on what they want the BNYC to do for them. Besides BNYC has a political empowerment programme, which is targeted at all political parties in the country. The BCPYL is being petty. I will give them a chance and wait for them to realise that what they are doing is not good for youth empowerment,' Malao said.

The conference will discuss, among other things, its position in the party's coming central committee elections, constitutional amendment, current state and the future of the BCP and branding the youth league.

Thekiso said they intend to portray the league as a champion of youth issues; hence they would be touring the country to discuss ways of 'addressing youth challenges with Batswana youth'.

Other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include BCP president, Gilson Saleshando, secretary general, Taolo Lucas, and regional chairman for Francistown region, Vain Mamela.