Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana National Front (BNF) deputy secretary general, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana has implored the party’s Kgalagadi North constituency members to uphold the principle of discipline, cohesion and unity.
Mr Ramaotwana was addressing members during the Kgalagadi North Elective Congress over the weekend. He emphasised that such principles were ideal for building a strong and unified party that could drive its objectives forward and remain in power. Mr Ramaotwana appealed to the members to refrain from conflicts, adding that if unmanaged, they could result in antagonistic relationships between members and leadership.
“We need to work in unity, hence our slogan, ‘Kopano ke Maatla’, which means united we stand divided we fall,” he said.
He said it was necessary to manage the difference and take decisions in a democratic manner, based on criticism and self-criticism, which were founded on respect and cooperation, so as to avoid chaos and anarchy.
“We also need to understand that we are the ruling party, we need to be exemplary leaders, who are issue-based in their criticism and avoid personal character assassination,” he said.
He advised that whilst it was necessary to identify mistakes, it should be done with constructive criticism, adding that BNF did not condone destructive criticism.
“BNF does not condone insults and tribalism. Members should understand and familiarise themselves with the principles governing the party,” he said.
He implored the members to familiarise themselves with BNF Social Democratic Programme and its ideological orientation and policy framework, which includes the constitutional provisions on party administration and those that dictate the party policy positions.
“Through understanding policies one will understand that gossip and misappropriation of party funds are not allowed,” he said, adding that factions and lobby groups were only temporary during congress.
Mr Ramaotwana assured the members that the leadership was working on clearing the card issuance backlog.
“We have almost 120 000 yet to be printed, and are yet to buy additional 50 000 cards, hence the need to pay for membership so that we can achieve that,” he said.
He shared that this year, the party would be celebrating its 60th anniversary, having been formed on October 3, 1965 in Mochudi, with Kgosi Linchwe as the chairperson among the founding fathers such as Fish Keitseng, Klaas Motshidisi and Kenneth Koma. Mr Ramaotwana thanked the members for having elected the party through the Member of Parliament, Mr Reason Lekutlane and pleaded with them to continue retaining the seat even in the next general elections.
In his welcome remarks, Kgalagadi North chairperson, Mr Nicolas Ngwamotsoko indicated that their constituency was amongst those with outstanding performance in the past general elections, which had in turn contributed to the UDC emerging as the government of the day. He stated that out of the 12 wards in the constituency, BNF managed to win eight council seats.
Mr Ngwamotsoko further noted that the party registered a low margin at the general elections, which called for a vigorous membership drive in recruitment and campaigns in order to retain power in the next general elections.
Mr Ngwamotsoko noted the constituency had lost many members after primary elections as a result of factions and further shared that it was upon the party to ensure that such people were persuaded to back into the party.
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