27 Dec 2018

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi has expressed confidence that they will convincingly win the 2019 general elections.

Speaking during a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Gaborone recently, Mr Balopi said the BDP was working hard to restore the electorates’ support after its popularity declined during the 2014 general elections.

“We are very much ready for 2019, and we are going to win convincingly. We have committed ourselves to winning and we believe we are the only party that can lead this country, as we have been tried and tested,” he said.

On the decision by former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi to challenge for party presidency, Mr Balopi said the party welcomed the development since it was constitutional for the incumbent president to be challenged for party leadership.

However, the secretary general said the BDP central committee had resolved to support President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in the race for the party leadership.

The BDP presidential election will be held next year at the party congress, probably in July next year.

“We as the central committee believe that our President should lead this country for 10 years, hence we support him,” said Mr Balopi.

He further expressed support for the move by President Masisi to drop Dr Venson-Moitoi from cabinet.

Speaking at the same press conference, BDP women’s wing chairperson, Ms Dorcas Makgato also said the women’s wing was fully behind Dr Masisi in the presidency race following a resolution to that effect made at their recent congress in Mogoditshane.

“We as the BDP women’s wing endorse Dr Masisi for an uninterrupted 10-year tenure as president of the BDP and the Republic of Botswana,” she said.

She said it would be suicidal for the party to change its president during a general election year.

BDP youth wing chairperson, Mr Simon Moabi also declared the youth’s support for Dr Masisi in the presidency race over Dr Venson-Moitoi. ENDS