Twelve years down the line since its formation in 1998, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) gathered at Maun Senior Secondary School for its 5th National Congress to elect a new energized leadership to take the party through the next three years until 2013. It is a well known and documented fact that, being the current president of the BCP Youth League, I went to Maun contesting for the same post of chairmanship with comrade Batisani Maswibili. Elections were held and at the end comrade Maswibili was elected party chairman.
I find it befitting to congratulate comrade Maswibili for his legitimate victory at the congress.  As expected, normal and often, the campaign for this post was not an easy one. The president of the Youth League and an elder (the party chairman) locked horns. This followed perceptions going around in the media that BCP does not encourage democratic processes to unfold within. BCP should be grateful to have proved  to the nation that the party upholds the principles of democracy. 
Admittedly, this campaign was at times too tense and emotional. Although this is normal and should the campaign separated BCP members into those who supported me and those who supported comrade Maswibili. I insist that this is a normal thing. In the process of campaigning for this post, many things happened, many things were said, some of which were directed at my personality, but above all, we must at the end of the day realize that we have a vision of a party to advance. The issue is not necessarily who is pulling from the top or from which angle and we should not concentrate on that, but rather we should concentrate on ensuring that mogobagoba is moving.
By these words, I wish to thank all those who rallied behind my campaign. I also wish to applaud those who rallied behind the party chairman.
I wish to implore all BCP members to unite and rally behind the newly elected central committee to carry the party forward for the next three years. Through the Youth League, that I lead, I wish to also pledge my support to the vision that will soon be laid down by the new leadership, and of course the vision that takes into account the interests of the youth.
Seikise Lotty Manyapetsa
President
BCP Youth League