During a Leadership Forum held this past weekend at the Big Five Lodge, party members called for MPs who hold ministerial positions to refrain from contesting for key party positions in the upcoming elective congress billed for next year. The central issue driving the debate is the perceived incompatibility between ministerial duties and the party's responsibilities. According to members, both roles demand significant time and attention, and the overlap of the duties could lead to neglect of either the constituency or the party’s needs. Several party members have expressed concerns that MPs who double up as Ministers are often too focused on government work, leaving little time for engagement with their constituencies or fulfilling party responsibilities. “There is a growing belief among members that a Cabinet Minister who also holds a party position cannot effectively serve either role,” said Tumelo Legase, the BNF spokesperson. “The members feel that the demands of ministerial work leave little time for addressing constituency issues, which should be the priority of any elected official. Party positions also require time and commitment, and when Ministers hold both roles, they risk neglecting the interests of the party and their constituents,” said Legase.
The source of concern is rooted in the idea that Ministers, who are heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of government, may not have enough time to spend in their constituencies, directly interacting with voters and addressing local issues. This, members argue, compromises the minister’s ability to effectively serve their people and deliver on campaign promises. “In fact, members believe that an MP or a councillor is a political position that requires significant time and attention,” Legase added. “Ministers spend much of their time in government offices, attending to national issues. The little time they have left should be dedicated to their constituencies, ensuring they remain connected to the people who elected them,” he said. Moreover, some BNF members voiced their discomfort with the idea of any individual holding both a high-ranking Cabinet role and a leadership position within the party. They fear that this concentration of power could lead to an unhealthy sense of entitlement and make the individual feel more important than the party as a whole. “There is discomfort amongst members with one person holding both a powerful ministerial role and a central party position,” Legase further explained. “The concern is that this could lead to a situation where a leader believes they are bigger than the party itself, undermining the collective nature of the organisation,” said Legase. He confirmed that these concerns were raised during the forum, but emphasised that the party’s central committee (CC) had made it clear that no decision could be made at this stage.
