BCP congress, a botched affair

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday September 14, 2010 00:00

The botched regional congress had been called to elect a new leadership for the Gaborone region, which includes Kweneng South East constituency and all Gaborone constituencies.

However the Saturday congress turned into a 10 minute episode when the delegates could not agree on how the voting should be conducted. While some suggested there should be five representatives from every ward in the region there were others who felt the five should come from each constituency and not ward. Interestingly when there was a call to use the constitution to solve the impasse, no one, not even the congress organisers, had it on hand.

'I think the constitution says we should have five delegates from wards,' said one delegate, attracting a rebuttal from another who felt otherwise.

Finally outgoing chairman of the region, Ndiwani Kenosi proposed that the congress be called off so that thorough preparations are made for a more organised congress.

In an interview with Mmegi, just after the meeting, the chairman admitted that his committee failed to adequately prepare for the congress. He said that members like him had just come back from the Tonota North by-election where they had been involved in the campaign for their candidate Dr Habaudi Hobona.

'I came back late during the week and there was not enough time to prepare for the congress. I admit that it's embarrassing to call off the congress because of lack of party constitution and voting material,' he said.

Another member of the committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed accusing fingers at the chairman saying he was very slow to act (in organising for the congress) and was using the Tonota North by-election as an excuse.

'I also understand the voting was to be done through a show of hands, just imagine how backward that is,' said the source.Meanwhile the congress has been moved to October 9.