Yearn for Bulela-Ditswe ‘collapses’ BDP structures
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday December 11, 2023 06:00
This follows BDP’s decision to prohibit members who hold certain positions in the party structures from contesting for Bulela-Ditswe. The resolution prescribes that prospective candidates of primary elections structures who are also office bearers of the Youth and Women’s Wing structures, regional committees, and sub-committees of the central committee (CC) should resign from their positions.
Only CC members are not mandated to resign.
This was done in a bid to ensure fair elections, since the primary elections have brought more harm than good and bred a lot of unhappiness within the party structures in the past. With some allegedly using their positions to cheat, the BDP was forced to take this decision and improve inner party democracy of primary elections. Even though, BDP spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse few months ago shrugged off fears that party structures will be greatly disrupted if many members quit leadership positions to contest the primary elections, this week a source told Mmegi that there are several regions affected by the recent disruption. They include Francistown, North West, North East, Central, Western, Kweneng West, South East, South West, South East, South West, and Southern.
The regional committees are each made up of six members. The ones that are still intact are BOMASE which consists of Bobirwa, Mmadinare and Selebi-Phikwe constituencies, SHOMA which includes Shoshong, Mahalapye East and West, Kweneng East which comprises of Mogoditshane, Lentsweletau, Gabane and Letswapo made up of Palapye, Tswapong South and North.
According to sources, in some cases, all members of the regional committees have expressed interest in running for office. In addition to region, cell and branch structures, for the first time, sub-committees are also affected. In October when the BDP opened the door for Expression of Interest (EOI) for both council and Parliament primaries, members overwhelmed the party headquarters ahead of the then November deadline. Now the disruption in the BDP structures occurred after the leadership realised that most people who submitted EOI are currently holding party positions and have not yet resigned from those positions.
“The concerned members were given until this week to resign from their positions and notify relevant people. Those members were told to send their resignations to the party headquarters. Not only have the regional committees been affected, but lower structures within the BDP have also been impacted by the resignation requirement. In some cases, structures are currently without leadership as a result. This will continue until new leadership is elected,” the source revealed. Another source said the issue that has arisen is that some members have been using their positions within party structures to campaign, which is against the BDP’s rules and regulations for Bulela-Ditswe hence strict requirements are being imposed. The source said the party believes that this is not only unfair, but it could also create an imbalance in the process if some people are left in their positions. Moreover, the source said the lower structures have a lot of power when it comes to registering members.
The fear then is that aspirant Bulela-Ditswe candidates who hold party positions may not be able to be objective if they are involved in the election process themselves. According to a source, that could lead to unfairness and biased decisions. “I understand why the party leadership would want to avoid that.
The party leadership want free and fair elections since there have been complaints regarding how primary elections have been handled previously. Some of the complaints came from lower structures as some members believed that they were conflicted and were favouring certain candidates,” the source said.
The source further revealed that there is no way the party could run party primaries with collapsed structures, therefore there is a need for them to be revived first. However, the source said the party leadership is likely going to instruct the Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) to ensure that all structures are revived for the Bulela-Ditswe process to kick start at the branch levels by January.
Mmegi is reliably informed that the party secretary-general, Kavis Kario is working around the clock to know the ward, cell and branches that are affected so that by January they can be revived. Mmegi has also learnt that the BDP wants its primaries to be held early next year if things go according the plan.
But as things stand, it's apparent that the ruling party has a lot to do before the primary election process. Therefore, the Bulela-Ditswe appeal election process might be jeopardised as time would not be on their side as general election is held next year in October. When contacted for comment, the party Kario said; “I am uncomfortable with party members who share party’s internal issues with the media. I cannot comment on the matter. Bulela-Ditswe preparations are going well and party primaries will be held next year.”
As for the issue of transparency and accountability, Article 28 (2) of the BDP constitution states that for purposes of the vetting of the applicants for all elections, the branch committee quorum will be constituted by the elected members only, to the exclusion of ex-officio members. It further says all interested persons, whose participation is likely to give rise to a conflict of interest, shall rescue themselves from the vetting body during consideration of the relevant ward and or constituency candidates.
In September at the BDP 59th National Council at Palapye, Kario issued the party resolutions, emphasising that Article 10 of the BDP constitution code of conduct for candidates of primary elections was amended to prescribe that prospective candidates of primary elections, who are also office bearers in the Youth and Women’s Wings, regional committees, and sub-committees of the Central Committee (CC) should also resign from their positions. “The effect was that only CC members should not resign their positions, safe for that the chairpersons of the National Youth Executive Committee (NYEC) and Women’s Wing being members of the central committee by virtue of their positions shall continue to serve in the CC,” he said.
The party president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, last year indicated that they would consider when those who intend to stand for primary elections are asked to jump off. He said the CC of the BDP and some members in the regions and branches should not use their positions to uplift their statuses ahead of the primary elections. “There are those who are in the structures to prepare for the primary elections. There is a way we are going to go about it and we will discuss this because we want fairness in the primary elections.
Even for members of the CC who want to stand for primary elections, there will be a way,” Masisi said at the time. The BDP has also resolved that their primary election regulations have been amended to allow that, where irregularities occur at either ward or branch levels during primary elections, there shall be re-election only at the affected polling station. Bulela-Ditswe has historically sparked dissatisfaction and internal disputes within the BDP. Kario had added that the raising of appeals against primary election results must strictly commence in writing using a prescribed form to be developed/approved by the central committee.
He had also previously mentioned that the CC shall have the final prerogative of who will stand as party candidates at both local government and legislative elections in accordance with the spirit of Article 13 (b) of the BDP constitution relating to the primary election regulations.