The Gazette has learnt that some of the party's top brass want party
members to concentrate on winning constituencies rather than on central
committee positions. According to information reaching The Gazette,
lobbying has started for and against the idea.
The BDP central committee met on Monday to discuss the matter and it
was decided that people should be allowed to think about it. The
central committee will discuss the matter again in a months' time, then
it will be referred to the National Council which is billed for March.
The Gazette understands that the idea came in the wake of the
possibility of BDP factions resurging after they were extinguished by
former President Mr. Festus Mogae. An insider who favours the idea told
The Gazette, I think this is good for the BDP because we will avoid
going back to the days of the factions. It is critical also that we
don't find ourselves embroiled in factional battles and focusing on
winning central committee elections instead of winning seats in the
general elections, he said.
It is understood that those who are campaigning for both national and
party position are being urged to give priority national positions and
to leave the central committee position to others party members. This
is purely in the interest of the party. If they love the party they
will step down as candidates for the central committee positions, he
added.
The Gazette has learnt that some candidates are willing to shelve their
central committee ambitions while some are not. Some of the BDP MPs and
Ministers with interest in this year's central committee elections
include Vice President Lt. Gen. Mompati Merafhe; Minister of
Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Daniel Kwelagobe,
Minister of Education, Jacob Nkate, Parliamentary hopeful for Gaborone
Central, Gomolemo Motswaledi, and parliamentary hopeful for Francistown
South, Wynter Mmolotsi.
It is understood that the central committee meeting was told that the
BDP is not short of able people who can run the central committee.