President of the former ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Mokgweetsi Masisi has launched a crusade against some old members of the party who are showing interest behind the scenes looking to replace him at the upcoming party congress next year, highlighting that BDP need younger leadership. Masisi on Wednesday held a high-level consultative discussion with chairmen and secretaries of BDP regions and indicated that it is important for the party to completely overhaul and have new faces.
The maverick Masisi said BDP as it enters a rebuilding phase following its defeat in 2024 general election last month should start the process of looking for young and fresh democrats to be in central committee.
He noted that he wouldn’t seek for re-election as the BDP president but will remain active as a member.
“In 2029, I will be 68 years and I will not be attractive to the voters at that time. We need young and fresh people to the face of this party. We have served and it is time to have fresh ideas,” said Masisi.
Masisi said there is lot of young democrats who are capable to lead and he will devote time to mentor them, adding that BDP regions should also ensure that young people are given a chance to be leaders.
According to Masisi, BDP is still reeling from the election defeat and as such it will in December engage consultants to establish what led to the party’s defeat and come up with solutions going to 2029 polls.
He encouraged BDP members not to lose hope and hurl insults to the party leadership as some do on social media.
“We need to accept the defeat collectively and move forward. We are disturbed by indiscipline shown by some of members. Those who want to leave the party are free to do so, we are in democracy,” he added.
As BDP gears up for elective congress some democrats are said to be working behind the scenes showing interest to lead the party and names are that already being mentioned are that of former BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi, former minister Nonofo Molefhi and businessman Lesang Magang respectively.
Judgement
Meanwhile, political science lecturer at University of Botswana (UB) Dr Adam Mfundisi said Masisi should be judged harshly because he came to power under the guise transformation of Batswana polity, democracy, economy, society and environment.
He said Masisi was parachuted to power by Ian Khama without a clear mission, vision, strategy and objectives on how to transform the country, hence Batswana decided to vote against BDP in 2024.
“Also, more than two decades of Khama in power Khama’s rule had unsettled, unruffled and angered
many voters as Ian was perceived to be dictatorial, insensitive and undemocratic in his government,” he said.
Dr Mfundisi also said Khama’s handling of the 2011 Public Service strike isolated him from a powerful voting bloc, adding that his zero tolerance to indiscipline irked his political base within the BDP at a time.
“One can assume without any fear of contradictions, that most of the BDP political elite wanted to milk the economy for their own personal gain. Khama was a stumbling block to their narcissistic behavior to accumulate wealth through the misuse of public assets for personal gain,” said the UB don, Dr Mfundisi.
On the other hand, Mfundisi said Masisi was not strict as compared to Khama and that facilitated those in BDP desire to gain wealth and property by using public office as channel for self-aggrandizement and self-settlement