BDP sugarcoats Bulela Ditswe primary elections

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) says it has put mechanisms in place to ensure that the party’s controversial primary elections dubbed Bulela-Ditswe, run smoothly.

Bulela-Ditswe has since inception in 2003 proved a stubborn headache for the party. BDP has on several occasions tried to reform the system but in vain. During its special congress recently, the party resolved to conduct primary elections in opposition-held constituencies and wards in October next year. This is because after its primary elections, the BDP has almost always found itself having to deal with protests and resignations over election results.

As a result, most of its disgruntled members contest the general elections as independent candidates, contributing to a poor showing. BDP Deputy Secretary General, Shaw Kgathi indicated this week Tuesday that the party would put measures in place to ensure that there is no voter trafficking as it has been a major concern in the past. He said the party has sought to make improvements to the system whenever deficiencies are identified.

“We will be phasing out our old membership card and replacing it with the new one with good security features. We will conduct elections first in opposition held constituencies. Registration cut off for opposition held areas being the 19 constituencies and applicable wards will be the 30th of June next year. Submission of applications to branch committees by aspirants will be from the 1st to the 17th of July 2017,” he said yesterday.

Kgathi, who is also Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, said the integrity of primary elections is essential to the acceptance of results by aspirants and by extension, the support they will enjoy from the membership in the general elections. He said to this end, the BDP continues to refine the system, which is why the special congress held recently in Mogoditshane was given an opportunity to discuss the revised guidelines.