BCP congress plans at advanced stage

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 23, 2010 00:00

In an interview yesterday BCP secretary general Taolo Lucas said the Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa (EISA), which has been engaged to run the elections has already circulated nomination forms which constituencies are expected to return to them by the 9th of July. Work on production of ballot papers has already been started by EISA, added Lucas.

In addition to nominations received from constituencies, delegates will be at liberty to nominate candidates from the floor.  The congress will elect a new leadership that shall run the party for the next three years. The secretary general said they expected 30 percent of those elected to be women as per the BCP constitution.

Meanwhile, Lucas indicated that retired judge and former chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, John Mosojane will address the congress on the theme 'Free and Fair elections in Botswana - A Myth or Reality.'Outgoing BCP president Gilson Saleshando will give his last speech as president.

'The speech is expected to cover wide ranging issues including the current state of Botswana's democracy and how the BCP should respond. The issue of opposition cooperation may also come out strongly from Saleshando's speech.

Log Raditlhokwa, a lecturer at the University of Botswana will give a talk on Commitment Based Leadership: A Vital Ingredient of Authentic Democratic Empowerment,' he said.  The secretary general said Raditlhokwa, a Social Work lecturer will provide motivational insights to the congress delegates on effective leadership and how it can be achieved from grassroots level to the central executive level. The secretary general (Lucas himself) will give a report on the state of the party with particular emphasis on the current state of the party structures.

'The report shall also highlight the challenges posed by current political developments in Botswana. Congress delegates will discuss the different speeches of the congress as well as generate ideas on the following thematic areas; the economy, social policy, social security and social services, democracy and governance, party building and administration,' said Lucas.He said that they have invited embassies and workers organisation to the congress. Workers organisations will be expected to give solidarity messages, he added.