BDP’s bumpy road
Like any other political party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had its up and downs that made headlines. It was such an eventful year for the party, which went to congress where Vice President Slumber Tsogwane was challenged for the party chairpersonship.
Molefhi challenges Tsogwane The fact that former Cabinet Minister Nonofo Molefhi challenged Vice President Slumber Tsogwane for the chairperson made headlines and became a topical issue. That alone threatened Tsogwane’s control of the party. It was not the first time Molefhi had challenged a sitting Vice President for the position.
He did that in 2017 and lost to the then VP Mokgweetsi Masisi. Back then, Molefhi was facing an uphill battle against Masisi’s affluent ‘Team Dubai’ which swept the stakes scoring highly in
all the contested positions including additional members, leaving the rival lobby group of Molefhi literally empty-handed. At this year’s congress held in Tsabong, Molefhi’s team felt that they were intimidated and denied a chance to campaign or solicit support from members while Tsogwane’s team campaigned freely.
After the Tsabong congress, the Molefhi team held a press conference, something that had never happened before and is not in the party’s culture. It was a whitewash victory for Tsogwane and his team. National Council The BDP held its national council at Maharaj in Gaborone but what became a trendy topic was President Masisi’s utterances which shocked the nation.
The BDP members betrayed Masisi when they leaked a recorded audio of him finally spilling the proverbial beans on Khama among others. The issue was widely circulated on various media platforms. The BDP members at the National Council
had requested the President to open up on the matter.
Masisi shared with the BDP forum things he went through from his time as Assistant Minister, Minister, Vice President up to the time he became State President. Masisi and former president’s fallout continues to this day and party members felt that Masisi’s failure to explain the tension to the nation is affecting the BDP as well. “Nna ga kena letlhoo mogo Khama le ha ele kilo mo go ene. Ga ke batle go mo tseela bogosi jwa gagwe kana dipe ditshwanelo tsa gagwe. Ne ka tshosiwa thata ke kgang ya gore ke batla go mmolaa. Nna gake na maikaelelo ao,” Masisi said in the leaked audio.
However, Masisi has not addressed the nation about the matter and rather has left the matter to die on its own. Women’s Wing and the rise of Serame Specially Elected Member of Parliament and Minister of Finance Peggy Serame was elected the BDP Women’s Wing chairperson, a move that gained her favour with party kingmakers and power brokers who have hatched a plan to fasttrack her political career in the party and position her to potentially become the country’s first female vice president.
Although Tsogwane still fancies the top seat looking at his demeanor after winning in Tsabong, the rise of Serame, who is being positioned to take over the Goodhope-Mabule Constituency from the incumbent, Eric Molale who is serving his last term, cannot be overlooked. Madongwana defy Masisi In a rather interesting turn of events, the BDP youth or Madongwana, as President Mokgweetsi Masisi addressed them, defied the party leadership’s call to vote for the preferred youth candidates at their National Youth Executive Committee (NYEC) this year. Collen Mochotlhi was elected the new BDP NYEC chairperson after joining the race in the 11th hour.
Mochotlhi chose to stand after the person they were supporting in the youth wing contest, Otsile Machola popularly called ‘Chencha Magiya’, was disqualified due to the age limit between 16 and 35. Party performance The other issue that attracted most readers is the BDP’s performance in bye-elections.
The party has not been doing well in bye-elections since it lost most wards to opposition parties. The members requested the party to preach unity and ensure that there is cooperation amongst the structures. The complaint was that some members of the party are de-campaigning each other. According to the former BDP Secretary-General Mpho Balopi’s report, out of 14 bye-elections that were held, the BDP managed to win only three.
Despite all these challenges that the party encountered, it seems to be enjoying stability as compared to opposition parties. However, its unity will be tested in the coming year as it will be going for the internal party primary elections.