- Masisi comes out clear on those he is against - BDP could be preparing for an unusual congress - Aspirants for Women’s Wing, Youth Wing committees left confused on campaigns - Kgato Ke Kgato factional group annoys Masisi - Central Committee will decide at its meeting - Ngaka
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) President, Mokgweetsi Masisi has been accused of trying to throw the party’s celebrated inner party democracy under the bus.
The arguments by fellow democrats were echoed this past weekend when Masisi addressed members of the party in Kweneng West and Kweneng East regions. The tone by the president was clear that he despises some of the people who are vying for central committee positions.
Masisi told both meetings that there are some aspiring candidates who are leading some members astray and they will be dealt with decisively if they continue in that manner.
The tone and posture by the party leader confirmed earlier speculations that certain individuals that had indicated a desire to contest in the July elective congress in Maun, are being targeted. This was however dismissed by the former Acting Secretary General Dr Lemogang Kwape.
While in Molepolole, Masisi stated that there is a candidate for the central committee position who is relying on people who are tarnishing the image of the party. He pointed out that such people should not be allowed to lead the BDP.
According to the party president, such an individual has leased out a house for his campaign team who are always attacking people on various party platforms. He also expressed concern about the Kgato ke Kgato faction, which according to information gathered by Botswana Guardian is against the current regime and those it supports.
The team whose WhatsApp group has the highest number of former BDP MPs and Councillors is said to have pledged its support for former Secretary General Mpho Balopi who is vying for the party presidency.
Balopi and Masisi long fell out ahead of the 2024 general election. Many democrats have not spoken openly about this situation until the party lost power in October 2024.
According to insiders, even though the president at both regions' consultative meetings did not mention names expect for former BDP member and Minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti, all could read between the lines as to the people who are unsettling the president and his team ahead of the congress.
News coming from the two meetings revealed that this has also unsettled those who want to contest for Women’s Wing and Youth Wing positions.
Ahead of the elective congress, the BDP will hold the National Council, Women’s Wing Congress followed by the Youth Wing Congress. This came after the president indicated that people have started campaigning while no declaration for such has been done.
Key positions in the BDP are the Presidency, Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer. Democrats have argued at the two engagements that what the president alluded to will be something new in the BDP.
They cited the recent congress held in Tsabong which ushered in the current central committee, saying no such thing of expression of interest to contest or declaration of when campaigns should start formed part of the preparations for the Tsabong Congress.
Currently the BDP Constitution and its Guidelines are silent on the elections of its structures.
What many in the BDP are unhappy about from the two regions, is that the President says people are campaigning before time while at his press conference last year, where he accepted defeat, he indicated that the BDP should find a youthful leader, a stance they argue Masisi was declaring for campaigns to start.
The utterances by the president have been viewed as a threat to the party’s inner party democracy.
At Kweneng East Masisi also stated that there is another member who wants a position within the central committee who has since been warned to desist from campaigning by former Secretary General.
This publication has been informed that such a person is former State President Minister Kabo Morwaeng. According to sources within the central committee, Morwaeng was given the warning in December 17th 2024 by then SG, Dr Kwape.
According to disgruntled Central committee members, action could not be taken as Dr Kwape could not make a formal reprimand letter as the central committee waited for legal advice from the party attorney since the Constitution was silent on campaigns for central committee positions.
Acting Secretary General, Ngaka Ngaka told Botswana Guardian that he also does not know the people that the party leader was talking about. On processes and procedures, Ngaka revealed that the central committee is meeting this month and will decide on everything.
“The central committee is meeting this month and that is when all matters will be decided in terms of how preparations for the national elective congress will be dealt with.
“It is after that meeting that we will inform all concerned what was discussed and decided,” Ngaka said in an interview this week.
The arguments by fellow democrats were echoed this past weekend when Masisi addressed members of the party in Kweneng West and Kweneng East regions. The tone by the president was clear that he despises some of the people who are vying for central committee positions.
Masisi told both meetings that there are some aspiring candidates who are leading some members astray and they will be dealt with decisively if they continue in that manner.
The tone and posture by the party leader confirmed earlier speculations that certain individuals that had indicated a desire to contest in the July elective congress in Maun, are being targeted. This was however dismissed by the former Acting Secretary General Dr Lemogang Kwape.
While in Molepolole, Masisi stated that there is a candidate for the central committee position who is relying on people who are tarnishing the image of the party. He pointed out that such people should not be allowed to lead the BDP.
According to the party president, such an individual has leased out a house for his campaign team who are always attacking people on various party platforms. He also expressed concern about the Kgato ke Kgato faction, which according to information gathered by Botswana Guardian is against the current regime and those it supports.
The team whose WhatsApp group has the highest number of former BDP MPs and Councillors is said to have pledged its support for former Secretary General Mpho Balopi who is vying for the party presidency.
Balopi and Masisi long fell out ahead of the 2024 general election. Many democrats have not spoken openly about this situation until the party lost power in October 2024.
According to insiders, even though the president at both regions' consultative meetings did not mention names expect for former BDP member and Minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti, all could read between the lines as to the people who are unsettling the president and his team ahead of the congress.
News coming from the two meetings revealed that this has also unsettled those who want to contest for Women’s Wing and Youth Wing positions.
Ahead of the elective congress, the BDP will hold the National Council, Women’s Wing Congress followed by the Youth Wing Congress. This came after the president indicated that people have started campaigning while no declaration for such has been done.
Key positions in the BDP are the Presidency, Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer. Democrats have argued at the two engagements that what the president alluded to will be something new in the BDP.
They cited the recent congress held in Tsabong which ushered in the current central committee, saying no such thing of expression of interest to contest or declaration of when campaigns should start formed part of the preparations for the Tsabong Congress.
Currently the BDP Constitution and its Guidelines are silent on the elections of its structures.
What many in the BDP are unhappy about from the two regions, is that the President says people are campaigning before time while at his press conference last year, where he accepted defeat, he indicated that the BDP should find a youthful leader, a stance they argue Masisi was declaring for campaigns to start.
The utterances by the president have been viewed as a threat to the party’s inner party democracy.
At Kweneng East Masisi also stated that there is another member who wants a position within the central committee who has since been warned to desist from campaigning by former Secretary General.
This publication has been informed that such a person is former State President Minister Kabo Morwaeng. According to sources within the central committee, Morwaeng was given the warning in December 17th 2024 by then SG, Dr Kwape.
According to disgruntled Central committee members, action could not be taken as Dr Kwape could not make a formal reprimand letter as the central committee waited for legal advice from the party attorney since the Constitution was silent on campaigns for central committee positions.
Acting Secretary General, Ngaka Ngaka told Botswana Guardian that he also does not know the people that the party leader was talking about. On processes and procedures, Ngaka revealed that the central committee is meeting this month and will decide on everything.
“The central committee is meeting this month and that is when all matters will be decided in terms of how preparations for the national elective congress will be dealt with.
“It is after that meeting that we will inform all concerned what was discussed and decided,” Ngaka said in an interview this week.
