Vice president and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairman Slumber Tsogwane’s influence is playing a pivotal role in ensuring that some of defiant party members who are holding councils leadership positions at towns, cities and districts lose them to pave way for members of his faction to consolidate its power.
Information turned up by this publication is that Tsogwane is embarking on a mission to ensure that all councils under the BDP control are led by members who are loyal to BDP leadership.
This comes at a time when fears are rife inside the party that some members, especially in the Central District could in the next general election jump ship to join Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).
According to sources, Tsogwane is playing a pivotal role in changes that have taken place in some of the councils such as Gaborone City Council (GCC) where a new leadership has been installed.
It is said other councils under the control of BDP could see leadership changes as well.
“The idea to exert influence on the leadership changes in the councils is to give Tsogwane the control of the party ahead of the elective congress as his lobby list is about to be announced. He will be leading it as the chairman contestant and all those that are elected for the councils leadership are to support his faction for the central committee positions,” confided the source.
Tsogwane is also running the ground to prepare for the 2024 General Elections that will be preceded by Bulela Ditswe next year.
It is said the BDP Chairman is also scouting 2024 potential candidates for the BDP across regions.
“He is in touch with some of the BDP members who are preferred to win the next year primary elections against some of current BDP MPs. He is grooming younger BDP councillors especially who are holding council leadership positions in towns and districts to be next MPs,” the source added.
The BDP is said to be worried by the quality of some of its current MPs who have been considered to be weak.
In the regions, democrats who are considered to be loyal to the BDP leadership have been supported by the leadership during branch congresses and have won key positions.
Some cabinet ministers have also lost the branches elections against upcoming BDP members who are said to be preferred by Tsogwane to represent the party in the 2024 General Elections.
Political analyst Kitso Morekisi said Tsogwane as BDP chairman should be in charge of the party.
According to Morekisi, other previous BDP chairmen were very instrumental in running the BDP.
“But Tsogwane has done well so far. A lot of people didn’t give him any chance as the vice president. This is the right time to prepare the party for next elections. However, it is important for any other leader in all political parties to avoid leading factions as it may cause splits,” he said.
Discipline
Meanwhile, Tsogwane is said to have asked all members who have been elected into branch committees to ensure that there is discipline in the party.
Those in the know intimate that Tsogwane has urged branch committees in different constituencies and regions that members to respect him.
“The chairman emphasized the importance of members being disciplined as the time of the elections approach. Members are urged to refrain from taking issues to the media as it puts the party in bad light. And that no one is expected to campaign for the positions of central committee position before the party opens up for campaigns in due course,” said a source.
The ruling party is expected to hosts its key national elective congress late in August this year.
Party spokesman Kagelelo Kentse was yet to respond to questions send to him.