BDP members warned against labelling party leadership impartial
Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) secretary general Kavis Kario has hailed his party as the more democratic and transparent in decisions made to decide who the party President should be. He was speaking as a guest speaker at the Francistown Regional Congress where President Mokgweetsi Masisi was endorsed as the party's presidential candidate for the 2024 general election.
Kario waxed lyrical about the consultative event, which he said was an indication that the ruling party is a great believer in democracy.
“The BDP has got clear processes and procedures, as well as a proven track record of internal democracy. We are the only party here in which regions come together to nominate our presidential candidate. The opposition parties do not have this elaborate democratic tradition,” Kario declared.
According to the party official, opposition parties are not democratic hence it is the party leaders who endorse and launch the candidates for the party without the involvement of the people. Kario is happy that the older generations have delivered the party to the next generations in good shape. His hope is that the next generation will not destroy the 62-year-old party.
Kario told his audience that the BDP government is bringing diverse schemes and projects across all sectors to sustain livelihoods. In order to realise further growth, the BDP must respect and protect its leaders, he advised.
“Further, as members, we must understand our party constitution as well as protect and respect the party leaders because, as the ruling party, the BDP belongs to the nation hence the fact that it has been elected consecutively since 1965 to date.
“We also need to honour those who started the journey we are in by founding the BDP for us. This we can do by forever going forward and together united,” Kario lectured at the same time expressing disappointment that some party members are not even able to defend the party they call theirs.
The SG appealed to Madomi to desist from destructive allegations that the party leadership lack impartiality in the way they treat party activists and members especially when the party has to choose election candidates. Nor is the SG at ease with the tendency by members to malign each other on social media.
“As party members, you must show respect for the party if you want to win and continue winning. Leaders must not allow themselves to be misled by individuals who want to act beyond the limit of their authority,” Kario advised, lamenting that some officials do things without regard to the party processes.
“Should you respect the party processes and leaders you will always win the elections. You need to remember that, you are a member of the broader team called the BDP led by President Masisi,” the guest speaker counselled, adding that in every situation every team member is important and has a role to play.
“Not only that. You have to be a reliable team member,” the party official said, expressing disappointment about instances where party structures have unlawfully suspended or even expelled party members unlawfully. Kario is hoping that the BDP wins all the 61 constituencies.
Meanwhile, when welcoming the SG earlier, the chairman of the Francistown Region, Sambandawe Mpenzeni called upon party members to exude discipline at all times. He expressed disappointment that party members were always complaining about their leaders’ undemocratic processes at regional level.