The members strongly oppose the decision to hold the party's congress next July, arguing that the proposed date is too far away. Instead, they are advocating for the congress to take place early next year to provide an opportunity for new members to rebuild the party. The crux of their dissatisfaction, according to an insider, lies in the inability of the party to elect new structures while simultaneously pushing for certain reforms and constitutional changes. "There are already factions forming around this issue," a source close to the development told Mmegi. "They hold the CC responsible for the General Election loss and believe new leadership is needed to rebuild the party without external influence from the current CC. They argue that the outgoing CC should refrain from making decisions that the incoming leadership might reject.
For instance, a survey conducted by the current CC could either be dismissed or approved by the new leadership, as some members suspect it may be an attempt to protect themselves," the source added. The dissatisfaction amongst the BDP members has been prominently expressed on social media, where individuals continue to challenge certain decisions made by the party's leadership. Furthermore, Mmegi has learned that some individuals are already campaigning for the CC positions, with lobby lists reportedly circulating. At this year’s national congress in Tlokweng, held during what was considered a honeymoon phase for the party, members extended the leadership's mandate by a year. Consequently, the mandate now expires in July or August 2025. However, given the party's loss in the recent polls, some members now wish to terminate the mandate they previously granted. Moreover, some members believe that if the leadership was to call for a special congress and resign promptly, it could help prevent further resignations that are currently affecting the party. Already, three CC members have stepped down, forcing the committee to reassign positions and co-opt new members into the CC. When questioned about the growing concerns and whether the party leadership was aware of these views, party spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse, responded: "We are not going to address the concerns of BDP members who choose to raise them through social media. Our party has clearly outlined procedures and processes in the party constitution. Members are aware of the party’s processes if they wish to call for a special congress. The CC mandate expires in July or August 2025, but the president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has the power to call for a special congress.”
Additionally, Kentse explained that delegates at the party national council could also table the issue of a special congress, allowing for a resolution to be made. Similarly, he mentioned that branch committees from all 61 constituencies could write to the CC to demand such action. However, Kentse emphasised that, to date, no formal requests have been made in accordance with the constitution. Kentse noted that it would be difficult for the party leadership to respond to concerns that have not been formally submitted. However, the BDP constitution article 26 says; “the national congress shall meet ordinarily every two years, and shall meet in extra-ordinary congress when convened by the president of the party, or upon the requisition of a majority of the members of the national council.” It also says an extraordinary national congress shall have the same powers as the ordinary national congress in respect of issues for which it was summoned. In that regard, the party constitution reveals that if any office within the party falls vacant, it may be filled by the organ in question, by electing, on a temporary basis until the time for the next applicable election as governed by this constitution, a member of the committee, who is eligible to fill by the organ in question, by electing, on a temporary basis until the time for the next applicable election as governed by this constitution, a member of the committee, who is eligible to fill such vacancy and the vacancy created thereby may be filled by co-opting any other member of the party provided that an organ may not co-opt more than one-third of its total membership.
Furthermore, it reveals that in the event of vacancies requiring to be filled exceeding one-third, an extraordinary congress relevant to that organ shall be convened as soon as reasonably practicable for only an election to fill the vacancies in question.
