Fireworks expected at BDP congress
Thursday, April 26, 2007
![No Image](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/uploads/imported_images/2007/April/Thursday26/php579.tmp.jpg&w=400&q=72&f=jpg&t=1)
The BDP secretariat has of late been inundated with inquiries from members across the country seeking pertinent information related to the congress and elections. This will be President Festus Mogae's last congress as leader of the party and state president.
As it has become the norm, nobody has challenged Vice President Ian Khama for the party chairmanship. There is generally concern why Khama is not stepping down to allow other people to run for the chairmanship when it is a given that he will be ascending to the presidency. Some people hope that Khama might announce from the floor of the congress that he is stepping down from the party chairmanship. It is said the biggest battle in the BDP this year will be between Education Minister and current BDP deputy secretary general, Jacob Nkate and former BDP youth leader and Gaborone regional committee chairman, Gomolemo Motswaledi. The two are seeking to succeed the long-serving Daniel Kwelagobe as secretary general.
The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...