- – … while Party President Balopi vows to instil discipline
The newly appointed chairperson of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) North West Region, Konstantinos Markus, and his committee have set a target to bring back democrats who left the party.
Delivering his acceptance speech after being elected unopposed at the BDP North West Regional Congress held in Maun over the weekend, Markus assured that the committee will do everything in its power to engage with defectors in an effort to lure them back.
Markus opined that the democrats who left the party are the reason why the BDP lost the 2024 elections to the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), making it crucial to bring them back.
“We need all these people as a party because they are the ones who cost us the elections. So, if we can recruit them back to the party, we believe our numbers will return to where they are supposed to be,” the new chairperson stressed.
He welcomed the return of councillor Moetetsi Mogalakwe, who contested the 2024 elections as an independent, former Boseja North Councillor Keibonye Lepodisi, who had defected to the Botswana National Front (BNF), and former Youth Wing member Prince Khango. Markus emphasized that their return to the BDP marks the launch of an offensive to bring back other lost members.
The former Member of Parliament for Maun East stated that the goal is to win all constituencies and wards across the region, reclaiming those lost to the opposition. He appealed to democrats, noting that this mission is only possible if they work closely with the newly appointed committee.
To foster teamwork, Markus pleaded with members to stop attacking each other, as this behavior breeds division within the party.
“Your social media should not be a platform to attack each other; instead, it should be used to take the party forward. If there is anything you dislike about another democrat, I beg you to approach us as a committee so the matter can be resolved amicably,” he pleaded.
While vowing not to disappoint the party and to work diligently, the former cabinet minister noted that infighting would only make his job difficult. “If you do not want to make my job difficult, please come to me and let us engage. But if you continue attacking each other, we will not be able to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Markus also advised the youth to use social media platforms to respectfully de-campaign the ruling party on its failed promises, using it as a strategy to boost their chances of winning the 2029 elections.
Meanwhile, BDP President Mpho Balopi has also vowed to instil discipline within the party, which he says was largely the reason they lost the 2024 general elections.
“There has been a lot of indiscipline within this party. As Balopi, it is now time you know that I am the leader of this institution, and I am going to lead it and instil discipline very thoroughly,” Balopi told democrats.
He added: “If people see us disciplined, truthful, and peaceful, they will gravitate towards us. There are over 800,000 people out there waiting to see what the new BDP is going to do differently from the past, and that is my target.”
