Ryder Gabathuse
6 November 2009
Francistown — In an endeavour to overcome some of the troubles bedeviling the party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) leadership will hold a leadership retreat in Gaborone on November 14.
The retreat is expected to help the ruling party to make some thorough introspection and suggest corrective measures to various problems buffeting the party.
BDP executive secretary Dr Comma Serema confirmed yesterday that the BDP has an impending retreat at which crucial issues would be discussed.
Serema indicated that those eligible to attend the important retreat include Central Committee members, legislators, branch and party sub committee members.
Serema added that one of the key issues that the party leadership will tackle include the "divisions in the party".
Whilst the retreat will not be a panacea to the party's troubles especially factionalism, Serema was optimistic that the party leadership from across various organs of the party will come up with recommendations for a lasting solution.
It will not be the first time for the BDP to hold such a retreat where the party leadership will put heads together and come up with a solution to burning issues.
When factionalism was at its all time high and threatening to reverse the party's gains after the 2004 general election, BDP organised two successive retreats at the Oasis Motel after some Barata-Phathi factional leaders queried the party leadership for failing to practise politics of inclusion.
Barata-Phathi leadership then accused the party and government headed by former president Festus Mogae of failing to include their leaders in both the party and government strategic positions.
Prior to the two retreats, there was a lot of hullabaloo about the issue of inclusion.
But it was not long before Mogae included Barata-Phathi leaders in both party and government posts.
Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Daniel Kwelagobe and Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri are the Barata- Phathi factional leaders who immediately were rewarded with cabinet positions amongst others. Equally, Mogae nominated them into the party leadership as well.
Serema was hopeful that the November 14 retreat will achieve its intended results and may be heal the rifts in the BDP.
The retreat comes at a time when the party former secretary general Gomolemo Motswaledi has been banished from the party for five years for taking Khama to court challenging some of his decisions.
Three members of the Central Committee this week resigned perhaps, in solidarity with Motswaledi.
The trio are Wynter Mmolotsi, Kabo Morwaeng and Guma Moyo. Some people view the latest developments as signs of instability in the ruling party.
Serema has also recently told Mmegi that the BDP lost some of the constituencies and council wards in the October 16 elections mainly due to the fact that the party's Bulela Ditswe primaries were stormy and party members could not forgive each other.
Therefore, whilst the party views Bulela Ditswe as a good primaries tool, there is a likelihood that the leadership retreat can be used to recommend some amendments to it.
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