Lime Revolution pledges to transform BCPYL

 

As the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Youth League Congress nears, lobby lists are emerging of young members who believe they can lead the youth league of the BCP to better horizons.

It is scheduled for 20-22 June in Serowe.

An emerging camp is the Lime Revolution, led by June June, a seasoned politician who has been with the party since 2009 and has gone through different structures within the party, says it is time for the youth to take their rightful space and be recognised as leaders, not of the future but now.

The Lime Revolution lobby list strives to reform all the youth party structures so that they can attract more youth within six months. They want to revive young people’s passion in politics, since most youth are hibernating from politics.

June says they will do this through political education to reduce voter apathy among the youth. He is happy that the BCP did quite well in the last national elections, and believes that the party can do more to build itself and attain its vision of state power.

June, who claims to have traversed the breadth of this country, says there is an increased need for social service support centres and gender based violence centres for those affected by GBV.

He also sees inadequacy in legal aid services, as a lot of young people in the party need some form of legal service. By addressing social ills that plague members of the BCPYL, the party can truly positively impact the lives of its members, June explained.

Akim Keokgale, who is contesting for the position of Secretary in the upcoming BCPYL elections, says they want to play a part in constitutional reforms. They aim to make the BCP fashionable to young people, and appeal for their vote as they are the best team to push their party's youth league forward.

The founding principles of the Lime Revolution are based on a strong foundation of firmly rooted young BCP members. They prioritise the active participation of young people in politics. Moreover, the vision of this lobby list is to actively work on the ground and prepare for state power by winning over young people to the party.

Keokgale says they want to establish a BCPYL national office and a national youth parliament so that the government of the day includes young people in national governance.

They believe this will provide a platform for young people to add to policies that affect the lives of young people. Keokgale says they want to have a national tour to revive the youth of BCP and conduct a survey to further understand the challenges of Batswana in Botswana.

They want to rebrand the BCPYL because the BCP is on an ongoing constitutional review, as the law must always be in tune with the times. Within the first six months, they want to have done a constitutional review process of the BCPYL so that their constitution aligns with the times and enables them to better serve their members.

Keokgale explained that they want to refrain from being a political body that just criticises the government, but to be policy initiators; this way, they will add value to the lives of Batswana.

“We are going to hold the government of the day accountable and the BCP party accountable,” Keokgale explained, adding that they want their voice heard as they speak for the future of the nation.

Loago Saleshando, who is running for student liaison officer, intends to fight issues plaguing students in Botswana.

Saleshando says the government is pouring money into the education sector, but there is still large-scale unemployment. Saleshando believes that the youth should be empowered for the modern industries in Botswana.

“As students, we struggle,” Saleshando said, lamenting the high cost of living, which contrasts with the unfulfilled government’s promise to increase students’ allowances. The BCPYL will partner with students in all tertiary institutions to force the government to deliver on its promise.

Moreover, they intend to have a student unified command where issues and solutions can be discussed by BCPYL members, and they will embark on leadership and ideological education so that voter apathy will be a thing of the past.

Gift Seete, who is contending for the Treasurer General position, says it is important to have management structures that they abide by, and they have to start from the grassroots. Seete says they are the party waiting to attain state power, and they intend to act responsibly, such as having a bank account for the youth league.

This way, Seete believes that accountability will be easy to track, and if they are voted into the leadership of the BCPYL, they intend to have fundraising activities for the BCPYL.

Seete says the Lime Revolution wants to have fundraising activities like musical festivals and Sunday soccer tournaments to make the youth league independent.

“The BCPYL does not have any property to its name,” Seete says, wondering why this is so. They will acquire property within 200 days of being voted into leadership. This way the party will not struggle with printing, photo-shooting, and other important campaign activities.

Seete says that as the BCPYL morphs into a more attractive entity, they will propose bold branding styles that appeal to the younger population, the largest demographic in the nation.

Seete warns the current regime not to forget the political party funding agreed to in parliament, a buffer to prevent financiers from manipulating political parties and coming back for their honey pot once a party attains state power.

Publicity Secretary candidate, Onkarabile Mazwigwila, says that the BCP youth are denied a platform to be on a pedestal. His vision is to integrate young, talented people from different places in Botswana to showcase their business and run for political office.

The Lime Revolution lobby list comprises; June June for presidential position, Stephen Molatlhegi for Vice President Position, Thabo Malesela for the chairperson position, Akim Keokgale for Secretary General, Kemphoyamodimo Monyatsi for Deputy Secretary general, Gift Seete for Treasurer General, Onkarabile Mazwigwila for Publicity Secretary, Amogelang Blackie for National Organizing Secretary, Tshoganetso Pitso for Secretary for Women affairs, Loago Saleshando for student liaison officer and Keotshepile Kelapile for Secretary of sports.