The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) councilors who owe the party monthly subscriptions have been barred from standing for elections.
At least five councilors were barred from standing for elections during the vetting process.
They have decided to defect from the party to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
BCP spokesperson Dithapelo Keorapetse confirmed that more than five councilors will not be allowed to contest for elections as a result of their failure to pay monthly subscriptions.
Keorapetse indicated that the affected councilors were based in Gaborone, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown.
He indicated that the MPs were not affected by the recent developments since they were not defaulting on their monthly subscriptions.
He indicated that the councilors defied the party decision hence they were disqualified to stand for elections this year.
Keorapetse said that the party has been lenient on politicians who have been failing to abide by party resolutions. According to Keorapetse, the councilors were aware of the repercussions since the party took a decision not to allow politicians who fail to pay monthly subscriptions to stand for office.
“We allowed this to happen in the past and we can no longer allow that to happen now. We have a party that we run and this money is used to finance party activities,” said Keoraopetse.
Keorapetse further indicated that the councilors were aware that failing to pay would result in serious consequences. He said that the party would no longer allow a situation where individuals use the party’s name to win elections and fail to pay the party monthly subscriptions.
BCP President Dumelang Saleshando had earlier warned that those who have failed to pay monthly subscription would not be allowed to contest.
Saleshando had warned that individuals who were voted in the office under BCP ticket in 2014 elections will not be allowed to contest under the BCP.
He had referred to politicians who fail to pay monthly subscriptions as delinquents who will not be allowed to contest elections.
Saleshando indicated that some of the ‘delinquents’ have already joined the ruling party since they knew that chances of standing for political office were minimal.
According to Saleshando, lawlessness could not be allowed since the party was using the constitution that politicians agreed to abide by.
