New information shows the organisation’s candidate vetting process left members divided ahead of the forthcoming by-election, which comes shortly following the death of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) councillor. What was expected to be a routine process of selecting candidates for the party primaries has instead opened another front of internal discontent. Some members are already questioning the decision to approve only two of the five applicants who expressed interest in contesting the party’s primary elections. Following the exercise, only Same Senkanang-Dishoto and Barulaganye Moloi are the two candidates who have been cleared to contest, while the other three applicants have been left out of the race.
The decision has reportedly not gone down well with some party members, who are questioning the basis on which the applicants were vetted. They also want to understand why those who were unsuccessful were not given reasons for their exclusion, a development that has also triggered claims of favouritismin the local party structures. Some members allegedly believe that the leadership has preferred certain candidates over others and more worrying for the BDP, however, are claims that the dispute could spill over into the by-election itself. A source said some disgruntled members had threatened not to support the former ruling party in the forthcoming by-election, arguing that the vetting process had been unfair. “Party members are angry with the decision made by the party’s central committee, more so because there are no reasons given for such a decision. “We wonder if members will even come to the meeting which is scheduled to be held this week,” the source said.
