In short, they asserted the supremacy of the constitution. Perhaps to borrow from constitutional theorists, central to the concept of constitutionalism is the idea that rights and freedoms of individuals are sovereign. In the context of a political party and indeed government, this requires that the power of a leader must be limited in purpose and scope. In a political grouping such as the BDP, the President is therefore merely to represent the interest of the party and its members within what is permissible under the party's constitution. In other words, the party constitution requires the President not to "legislate" in contradiction with the law or to derogate or abrogate from the law as enshrined in the party constitution.
Under the heading "Khama rebuffs Kwelagobe and Motswaledi?" (Mmegi newspaper 23 July 2009) we are told that, "Kwelagobe and Motswaledi reportedly went to Khama wielding a list of five people, which they thought the President should consider to make the Central Committee more inclusive". We are again told that "Khama has appointed 77 members of the sub-committees without consulting the BDP Central Committee, which is overwhelmingly dominated by the faction after its resounding victory on Monday," (Mmegi 24 July 2009). The new party Secretary General is also reported as saying, that he is "shocked that the President has already exercised this right and authority" and that the Secretary General as the "operations officer of the party [should have had] a role to play in the choice of members of the working and advisory committees" (Mmegi 24 July 2009).
