15 Dec 2016

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Botsalo Ntuane says the party has reached a consensus not to hold primary elections in some areas where there are pending bye elections.

Addressing a press conference in Gaborone on December 13, Mr Ntuane said there would council bye elections at Boikago Madiba in Palapye, Tsabong North and Rasesa as well as a parliamentary bye election in Tlokweng.

He, however, said for the past weeks, they had been engaging democrats in all areas except Tlokweng.

He said they had managed to reach consensus in Tsabong where the party would be represented Mr Edward Kotzee, and Mr Daniel Molokwe would represent the party in Rasesa.

He however said in Palapye the democrats failed to agree on a consensus candidate, therefore they would be primary elections over the weekend.

Regarding Tlokweng parliamentary bye elections, Mr Ntuane said they would be in Tlokweng on Sunday to engage party structures on the prospect of determining a consensus candidate.

In other issues, he said 2017 would be a busy year for the BDP, and in February 10-12 they would host youth congress in Tsabong.

He said in March 04 his party would celebrate 55 th anniversary which will be held in Serowe.

“You will recall that in 2012 we celebrated the golden jubilee of its founding, the party is older than Botswana, because it is the party that founded Botswana,” he said.

Ntuane further said it was resolved that there was a need to commemorate the milestone, and the central committee decided that it was appropriate to fully celebrate.

The BDP, he said had plan that the anniversary to be very big, exciting, and major event  adding the leader of the party had also appointed the local organising committee and preparations have already started.

Mr Ntuane said on March 24 there will be a women's wing elective congress, in Maun where women would be electing new steering committee.

He said still in March  BDP will hold its National Council meeting in Gaborone, which would pave way for the July national congress to be held in Francistown region. ENDS