The former ruling party will on May 10 and 11, 2025, hold an elective congress in Maun, with the president being elected through a ballot for the first time in history. Ahead the gathering, Masisi announced that they would have a fresh start with all positions being contested for. He encouraged BDP members to abide by the dictates of the constitution and all regulations governing elections.
“I want to caution very strongly that those members and their supporters who are vying for office know that they are compelled by our constitution and ancillary regulations including practice to when campaigning project themselves, and not project themselves in any manner which so ever might be adversarial or harmful or injurious to another member including the leadership of the party,” he said.
He called on them to make pronouncements primarily to democrats without being tempted to make pronouncements that are undermining other democrats.
Masisi said he was wishful of peace to prevail as it is what makes them democrats.
For his part, the party’s secretary-general Ngaka Ngaka said preparations for the congress are going well.
“We haven't experienced any serious challenges thus far and no candidate has had any issues with the leadership. We continue to prepare for a large group of over 700 delegates. It is a smaller number because we now have fewer MPs and councillors who would also have voting rights,” he said.
Looking to replace Masisi at the helm are Slumber Tsogwane, Mpho Balopi, Nonofo Molefhi, Ame Makoba and Dr Maxwell Nhlatho.
Meanwhile, Masisi said being democrats, they are ready for the forensic audit as recently announced by the government of the day.
“We welcome it with open arms and look forward to it to be objective in the determination of any wrongdoing by whosoever against the financiers of this republic. We urge everybody to cooperate.
“This is our commitment to the rule of law, because nobody has ever been allowed to take public finances unduly and take them for self use,” he said.
