Oliver Modise
30 June 2008
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) member and University of Botswana (UB) academic, Raphael Dingalo, says the party should not hold its central committee elections next year to focus on the 2009 general election.
In an interview with Monitor, Dingalo said in Gaborone yesterday that he pulled out of the BDP primary elections for the Shoshong constituency in the interest of the party.
He explained that he has pulled out of the Shoshong race in the interest of the BDP. "The overriding consideration to withdraw was based on a number of factors but chief amongst them was to show and be living testimony that one can withhold their personal interest in the best interest of the larger organisation - and in this case the BDP," said Dingalo. He stated that it is crucial that the BDP enters the general election as a united party in order for it to sweep all the constituencies.
He said he wants to extend his ideas to those interested in contesting next year's BDP central committee elections.
"I strongly believe that there should be no elections for central committee positions at next year's congress as this might divert our focus from the key 2009 general election," he said. He added that the current Central Committee members should be allowed to take the party through the general election. Dingalo has urged his party members to seriously consider not going ahead with electing a new central committee next year, as is the custom after every two years. Dingalo also said that he believes the incumbent legislator and assistant minister of trade and industry, Duke Lefhoko, "is doing well as Shoshong MP". "There is much that I can say about him as he exudes brilliance and intelligence," he stated.
In a separate interview, Lefhoko confirmed to Monitor that before his withdrawal, he had time to talk to Dingalo who informed him that he had time to rethink his position about contesting the party primaries. "In his view, I am representing the people of Shoshong well," said Lefhoko.
Meanwhile, the BDP central committee has released the names of parliamentary candidates interested in contesting the Shoshong constituency. Lefhoko is being challenged by Phillip Makgalemele, Modibedi Robi, Tibe Tibe and councillor Mhiko Kekwaletswe. Reached for comment, BDP executive secretary, Comma Serema, said Dingalo's suggestion is not new because the special congress held in Gaborone to amend the party constitution had rejected the proposal.
"If the issue came up again, it would be taken up at the party congress next year," Dr Serema said.
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