BDP appeal for compromise in Central Committee elections

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is expected to lobby its members who are interested in contesting for various positions in the central committee to consider compromising.

BDP Secretary General, Botsalo Ntuane stated that the party would encourage consensus in the build-up to the party elective congress to be hosted by Francistown region in July this year. The BDP recently invited party members to express interest to contest central committee positions.

Ntuane revealed that a significant number of applications have been received by the BDP secretariat. However, he would not state the names of those who have submitted, saying this would be done by party President Ian Khama at the BDP National Council to be held in Gaborone next week. “I have not been able to see the names because I am an interested party. No one has been able to see the names from the central committee.

The names would only be published by party president at the National Council. Calling for expression of interest does not mean it is the end of the road. Democrats just like at our past congress in Mmadinare can have names submitted from the floor. We called for this expression of interest so that as the party we could be able to ask our members to reach consensus where possible,” Ntuane told a media briefing in Gaborone.

The secretary general said those who want to reach a compromise would do so but those who do not want are also free to contest as they are protected by the constitution. He explained that the consensus candidate matter is a resolution that was taken by the party congress in Mogoditshane and should not be treated as anything new.

Ntuane said those interested in holding party office are also free to start their campaigns. He said BDP members have all along been campaigning and the only difference is how they do it. “Campaigns have been going on. It could only just be that the campaigns are not in the open. This is the same thing as when we were preparing for Mmadinare.”