Mmegi has learnt that the party’s executive secretary has received a number of submissions proposing amendments to the constitution, with some members calling for the powers of the party president to be revisited. Sources say the proposed amendments have been submitted by both individual members and party structures. Amongst the issues attracting particular attention is the role of the party president in disciplinary proceedings. One source stated that some members are concerned that the president has excessive powers when dealing with disciplinary matters. As a result, the members want the BDP constitution amended to ensure that disciplinary processes are handled independently and transparently. “Members believe that the party president abuses such powers and at the end, it makes the disciplinary committee irrelevant,” said a source familiar with the developments. If adopted, the concerns could result in a significant change to BDP’s internal disciplinary architecture, particularly regarding the balance of authority between the party president and disciplinary structures.
BDP executive secretary, Ame Makoba, confirmed in an interview on Tuesday that the party has received submissions from both individuals and structures proposing changes to the constitution. However, he stressed that the process was being driven by the party’s constitutional procedures and that the proposals would have to undergo the required internal consultations before any amendment could be adopted. “It is true, individuals and party structures have written to the party proposing for the constitution to be amended. Remember, we could not hold it if members and structures did not do so,” Makoba stated. The executive secretary said the BDP has received many letters and was preparing to send the proposed amendments to the relevant structures for discussion.
