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Botswana: More Powers for BDP President
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
Ryder Gabathuse
Gaborone
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) delegates will converge on Boipuso Hall for the proposed amendment to the party constitution tomorrow.
The Special National Congress is a sequel to the Molepolole congress where party constitutional changes could not be debated because of lack of time. Amongst the proposed constitutional amendments include the powers and functions of the party president.
BDP executive secretary Dr Comma Serema said yesterday that the proposed amendments include a clause empowering the party president and reads in part: "Notwithstanding any provisions of the BDP constitution, the president of the BDP may exercise summary disciplinary power against any member of which may result in verbal or written reprimand if he considers that to be in the best interest of the party."
Although some people feared that giving the party president more powers could be dangerous, Serema treated the amendment as an ordinary exercise that should not instil any fear in the party faithful. He added that the proposals were long made and it was only that it could not be done at the party's last congress held in Molepolole.
The party would also recommend that Botho be treated as one of the principles of the BDP in the preamble. He said that one of the proposed amendments recommends that new recruits from other parties must wait for two years instead of one year before running for public or party offices. Serema, however, indicated that the BDP Central Committee is empowered to waiver the mandatory period as and when it is deemed necessary. The Council of Elders, which is currently chaired by Jerry Gabaake, whose functions include advising the party on various issues, would be given more teeth as it recommended for inclusion in the party constitution.
One of the recommended proposals is to see the elections of the BDP Central Committee members held every five years instead of every two years. At the Special National Congress, there will be a recommendation to entrench the Electoral Board in the BDP constitution. The Special National Congress comes at a time when the party leadership faces little resistance on many issues from within, as BDP factions are currently dysfunctional following peace in the party.
The party is therefore expected to have smooth events from tomorrow right up to the weekend. Those who have not been respecting the decisions of the party and parliamentary caucuses might get a rude awakening if clauses on discipline get entrenched in the constitution as proposed. Serema explained that Vice President and BDP chairman Ian Khama will not relinquish his party post tomorrow. Instead, he expects any announcements on such a matter to be made on April 1 after the Central Committee has convened and "that will be after he (Khama) has duly taken over his new responsibility as party and state President".
The Electoral Board, Serema said, would be given an opportunity to present the possible date of the Bulela Ditswe, thus clearing confusion as the tentative date has been October with some people saying that the party might now change to August as it is regarded as a more suitable date to give people an opportunity to campaign after the primaries.
The following day ( Friday), the BDP will hold its National Council, the party's policy-making body. It will be President Festus Mogae's last council. It will start at 2 pm at the Boipuso Hall. Serema said that BDP secretary-general, Jacob Nkate, will present a report detailing what has transpired during his tour of about eight of the party's 12 regions.
" He would brief the council about how the regions are doing to forge ahead. The belief is that the tours have given him a clue as to how the party is doing out there." BDP national treasurer, Satar Dada, is also expected to brief the delegates on how the party is doing in so far as financial matters are concerned. In terms of the financial resources and others, the BDP is the most stable party in the country. Local Government Minister, Margaret Nasha, is expected to make a presentation on how her ministry has been performing on various important issues. Since the national council is a policy-making body, pertinent issues will be raised after Nasha presentation.
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The activities will culminate in an evening marking what is expected to be the mother of all celebrations as the party bids Mogae farewell.
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