BDP statement on Barata-Phathi gathering

| Tuesday March 23, 2010 00:00

*We now understand that the same group of dissidents have resolved to leave the BDP and form a new Party. The Central Committee also read and discussed a document addressed to the Party Leadership entitled 'the concerns of an assembly of BarataPhathi'; containing thirty (30) conditions they want to be met by His Excellency, the President.

*  Nothing short of a total surrender by His Excellency, the President to this group of people of his constitutional powers, functions, and duties as Head of State and Leader of the Party -   we have found that the sum-total of these demands are simply untenable, outrageous and cannot be met.  It is also to be noted that their demands are inconsistent with their decision to quit the Party.

* The Central Committee has therefore resolved that organisers of the new break-away Party and the convenors of the so-called BarataPhathi meeting, who took part in the unlawful assembly held last Saturday in Mogoditshane (which includes six (6) sitting Members of Parliament), should surrender their membership cards of the BDP within 48 hours to the Main Party Office in Gaborone.

* Should this instruction from the Central Committee be disobeyed, such individuals shall be deemed to remain members of the BDP, subject to the Party Constitution and its full disciplinary authority.

*In the meantime, fellow democrats are informed that the National Council scheduled for this weekend in Gaborone has been postponed by the Central Committee indefinitely to allow the Party Leadership to address this crisis.

*Finally, the Central Committee wishes to state that it intends to concentrate all its efforts towards supporting the President and the government of the Ruling Party in delivering programmes and policies to uplift the lives of Batswana, and not to be distracted by self seeking members (or former members) of the Party only interested in promoting their personal ambitions.