The stage has been set, battle lines drawn as the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) gears up for its National Elective Congress scheduled for Maun on May 10th.
The first for the party as an opposition formation, the congress is a critical moment for BDP to rebuild following the humiliating defeat in the 2024 general elections.
BDP secretary general, Ngaka Ngaka has confirmed that preparations are going well noting that they have even set up a team in Maun that is ensuring that things will run smoothly on the day of the congress.
“All is going well; all our regions have already held their branch congresses and elected the delegates who will be participating in the congress. The list has already been submitted to the head office to prepare for the congress,” he emphasised.
Ngaka revealed that they are expecting close to 800 delegates from 61 constituencies across the country. He indicated that the electoral college at the congress will be less than usual because of the reduced numbers of the party’s elected members of parliament and councillors.
This as members of parliament and councillors form part of the electoral college at the party’s elective congresses. The BDP currently has around 125 councillors and 4 members of parliament.
Emphasising on the readiness, the secretary general indicated that during branches congresses they only encountered minor challenges regarding procedure and the issues were resolved after seeking clarity from the secretary general’s office.
“The expectation is that on May 9th, all BDP members including delegates will arrive in Maun. Delegates will be accredited on the 9th before congress the following day. Elections will go on until the list is complete so there are chances that it will last until Sunday.”
On the issue of transportation, Ngaka revealed that the central committee has taken a decision to allocate each of the party’s 14 regions a bus to ensure that all members and delegates arrive in Maun for the congress. This as some party members appealed for the BDP leadership to consider providing transportation for delegates from various constituencies and regions to Maun, or to at least subsidise the cost.
Ngaka said the congress is significant in the essence that it is the first one the BDP will be holding as an opposition party. “For the past 58 years we were holding such congresses as a ruling party but today we are holding it in pains wondering what has transpired or led us to lose the elections.”
He however assured that they are going to the congress to strengthen and rebuild the BDP and will come out as a united front. The secretary general pleaded for the delegates to use their power as representatives to vote the leadership they want and not be derailed by the noise that may rise there and make them forget what they came to Maun for.
Party President Mokgweetsi Masisi has long announced that he will not be contesting for the party’s presidency leaving the position and 11 others of central committee now open to the democrats that wish to contest.
While other positions are also of great importance within the party’s leadership, the interest is however on the presidency as the holder will champion the party to archiving its goals.
Those who are vying for the position include former vice president, Slumber Tsogwane, former cabinet ministers being Mpho Balopi, Nonofo Molefi as well as the party’s youthful activist, Ame Makoba. Former cabinet minister, Dorcas Makgato and businessman Maxwell Nhlatho has withdrawn their candidacy as presidential hopefuls.
The contenders are mostly in agreement that the BDP is currently in shambles so it is important for it to introspect and rebuild itself for success. This is what they believe can bring the growth and success of the party going forward. Others believe in order to successfully regroup and re-build itself, the party should retrace its footsteps to the founding principles.
The BDP holds its elective congress every two years, as evidenced by those that took place at Maun (2013), Mmadinare (2015), Tonota (2017), Mochudi (2019), and Tsabong (2022) and is now returning to Maun this year for the 41st national congress. The party failed to hold any national elective congress in 2020/21 due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
