Egomania led to the birth of a new party

It took a day for the faction led by Ndaba Gaolathe to announce formation of a new party following the intervention by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) on Tuesday evening. Gaolathe loyalists welcomed the Alliance for Progressives (AP), which was announced by their leader on Wednesday evening at Ave Maria Conference Centre in Gaborone.

It took only seven years for the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) to split. We all remember that the 2010 Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) split that gave birth to the BMD was hailed as a game changer in Botswana politics. This is the party that exposed the BDP's vulnerability.

The BDP that was deemed to have assumed immortality was now seen as weak and ordinary. The BDP young turks who were its hope for survival as a ruling party led this split. The BMD became the source for enhanced energy within the opposition. It brought swag to the moribund opposition politics and their membership of the UDC made victory seem possible.

Editor's Comment
Bulela Ditswe entry fee could hamper broke talent

The fees have been doubled from the previous amounts and raise concerns about political participation accessibility and democratic representation principles.This significant fee increase prompts questions regarding its impact on grassroots democracy.On one hand, the fees act as a filter, ensuring only serious contenders enter the race, potentially reducing frivolous candidacies and generating crucial campaign funds. The BDP argues that aspiring...

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