Crunch time as BDP extraordinary congress starts
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday August 30, 2024 10:06
The party's central committee (CC) has been grappling with numerous appeals arising from the outcome of Bulela Ditswe, which recorded a high number of disputes. Consequently, some party members are still angry regarding how the appeals are being handled, both at the regional committee level and by the CC. Furthermore, the way the primary elections were conducted has left some members aggrieved, particularly because certain individuals were not included in the voters' rolls, thus simply disenfranchising them. Nevertheless, the party is moving forward with plans to launch its manifesto and hold its congress, even though some members are still reeling in shock of the outcomes of the appeals from the CC. According to Article 12(h) of the BDP constitution, any decision on appeal made by the CC is final and binding.
As the party navigates the appeals process during the launch and congress week, tensions and internal conflicts may escalate. Meanwhile, the country is set to hold its General Election just over a month. Last week, party president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, announced that the congress and launch would take place this week, which shocked many members, as they are still awaiting the outcomes of their appeals. This situation could, therefore, prompt some members to sponsor motions that may put the party leadership in a tight situation, despite knowing that the primary purpose of the congress is to elect the party president. Whether the BDP will emerge from the congress united or not remains to be seen. If the party does not provide counselling to disgruntled members, this could, in turn, lead to some jumping ship to other parties or becoming independent candidates. Typically, BDP members believe that party congresses are their only opportunity to have their voices heard. Therefore, these gatherings are crucial for the members to express their views. Moreover, the decisions made at the congress are binding on the party. The primary purpose of this special congress is to elect the party president, and whoever is elected will subsequently become the party's presidential candidate for the BDP in 2024 General Election. However, it is now up to the party to foster unity within its ranks. Additionally, during this critical time, the party president, who is the face of the party and the election chief campaigner, will depend on the party's secretary-general and chairperson to unify the members. With just a few weeks left, the BDP must, therefore, work diligently to solidify its support base.
In an interview with BDP spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse, on Wednesday, he clarified that the congress is held annually, as mandated by the party constitution. 'The congress must proceed regardless of what issues the party is dealing with. In my opinion, party members understand the purpose of the congress, and therefore, they will not raise primary election issues during this event. Moreover, it is, in fact, premature to foster peace amongst members while appeals are still ongoing. The appeals process must be completed first, and then the counselling process should follow,' he explained. Furthermore, Kentse stressed that it is the responsibility of the central committee to ensure that the appeals are properly addressed and that candidates are informed of the outcomes. He also highlighted that although the BDP will be launching its candidates on Sunday, the party has seven unopposed candidates during the primary elections, 22 constituencies without any appeals, and the CC has already made final decisions for 31 constituencies. Moreover, Kentse said while the party president had requested members not to file appeals, he understood that was merely an appeal and that members could not be prevented from exercising their constitutional rights. In fact, many members did exercise this right, and the party respected their choice. Kentse further emphasised that members should prioritise the party's interests, noting that they can, therefore, achieve greater success if united rather than divided.