- Losers flock Tsholetsa House for redress
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) finds itself facing another uphill battle as some losers of the primary elections continue to lodge complaints against the election processes.
The BDP held the second and last lap of Bulela-Ditswe this past weekend. Just like the first round of their elections most constituencies had a hostile atmosphere as there are queries especially about the voters’ roll.
While President Mokgweetsi Masisi had earlier indicated that there would be no appeals entertained, the party finds itself in a tricky situation as democrats flood Tsholetsa House with appeals. Insiders argue that should the central committee fail to entertain the appeals it will likely divide the party ahead of the general election due in two months.
BDP Secretary General, Kavis Kario has stated that they have ensured that all necessary preparations were made and the relevant committees for the primary elections have assured the Central Committee that indeed everything is in place for the successful conduct of both phases of the primary elections.
Regarding the appeals Kario indicated that they are in no position to predetermine whether there will be any appeals (or their nature) emanating from the primary elections and as such the Party may not make any decision before the outcomes of the elections and/or the appeals of the outcomes.
“The Party however, by principle and traditional practice, encourages members who contest primary elections to embrace Party processes and to accept outcomes of internal processes without need for division or mediation,” the secretary general said.
Some of the ground of appeals are that the elections were held unfairly, the playing field was not level and that a lot of democrats were denied the right to vote. Further, candidates were denied the right to ensure that those who can vote for them are treated fairly to cast a vote in their favour and the right to be elected as candidates, which circumstances led to the unavoidable conclusion that the said elections lacked credibility and the results are not
reflective of the will of the democrats.
Branch committees have also come under heavy criticism for allegedly being conflicted as they ensured that their preferred candidates win the primaries. The Branch committees are accused of supporting certain candidates and forming part of the campaign teams, a move that can only be described as extremely unfair and an abuse of position of power to favour one candidate over the other.
The elections particularly for the Parliamentary seats, are said to have been marred by unmitigated irregularities and improper conduct by members and office bearers in various party structures which to a larger extent have prejudiced the candidates.
The BDP held the second and last lap of Bulela-Ditswe this past weekend. Just like the first round of their elections most constituencies had a hostile atmosphere as there are queries especially about the voters’ roll.
While President Mokgweetsi Masisi had earlier indicated that there would be no appeals entertained, the party finds itself in a tricky situation as democrats flood Tsholetsa House with appeals. Insiders argue that should the central committee fail to entertain the appeals it will likely divide the party ahead of the general election due in two months.
BDP Secretary General, Kavis Kario has stated that they have ensured that all necessary preparations were made and the relevant committees for the primary elections have assured the Central Committee that indeed everything is in place for the successful conduct of both phases of the primary elections.
Regarding the appeals Kario indicated that they are in no position to predetermine whether there will be any appeals (or their nature) emanating from the primary elections and as such the Party may not make any decision before the outcomes of the elections and/or the appeals of the outcomes.
“The Party however, by principle and traditional practice, encourages members who contest primary elections to embrace Party processes and to accept outcomes of internal processes without need for division or mediation,” the secretary general said.
Some of the ground of appeals are that the elections were held unfairly, the playing field was not level and that a lot of democrats were denied the right to vote. Further, candidates were denied the right to ensure that those who can vote for them are treated fairly to cast a vote in their favour and the right to be elected as candidates, which circumstances led to the unavoidable conclusion that the said elections lacked credibility and the results are not
reflective of the will of the democrats.
Branch committees have also come under heavy criticism for allegedly being conflicted as they ensured that their preferred candidates win the primaries. The Branch committees are accused of supporting certain candidates and forming part of the campaign teams, a move that can only be described as extremely unfair and an abuse of position of power to favour one candidate over the other.
The elections particularly for the Parliamentary seats, are said to have been marred by unmitigated irregularities and improper conduct by members and office bearers in various party structures which to a larger extent have prejudiced the candidates.
