BDP’s ensuing melees
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 22, 2025 14:12
The BDP was not prepared for the ouster and worse, never saw it coming, even in their wildest dreams. The former ruling party still does not have the slightest idea of what had hit them in last October polls. The BDP has been at the helm for nearly 60 uninterrupted years from independence in 1966 and now it has been reduced to a shockingly minority party with only four seats in a 61 elected member National Assembly, which has earned them the moniker ‘Fours’ like Botswana’s popularly rising retailer by the same name. Botswana’s unicameral National Assembly has a total of 69 members including six Specially Elected MPs, the State President and the Speaker of the National Assembly who are ex-officio members. Botswana’s fifth and one-term president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, sensing defeat was imminent, was the first to telephone Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) assuring him that he would accept defeat if the results of the 13th polls gave the UDC victory. At least in some parts of Africa, losing presidents do not easily accede defeat as they put some form of resistance, claiming victory even in a glaring loss. From the face of it, it does not seem Masisi, who is the party’s outgoing president (and his party head honchos) are going to do anything soon to help their party’s sunken voices as minority opposition.
The BDP is behaving more like a family in disorder. The party activities lack proper coordination. People started speaking in their different voices immediately after the party lost the polls. The blame game was accelerated with the majority of the fingers pointed at Masisi for having failed to take proper control of a party that had everything to enable it to win the 2024 polls. The BDP leadership in its desperation has also promised to institute an inquiry to establish what could have caused its loss. Due to the loss, regular funders streamed out of the party from the corporate space to a renowned party benefactor and motor magnate Satar Dada, who ensured the BDP had full financial and logistical support has also called it quits. The BDP previously also relied upon its many MPs and councillors for stable monthly subscriptions to run party affairs. Masisi recently traversed the length and breadth of the country drumming up support for the party diehards to rise from the ashes and stand with the BDP during these trying times. He is not the first party leader to witness the formation of a break away party from the BDP as in 2010 his predecessor, Ian Khama, who was the country’s fourth president saw the emergence of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), which was formed by disillusioned members of the then ruling party, especially staunch members of a faction known as Barata Phathi, which Khama chose not to recognise even after vanquishing the A-Team axis, which was closer to him (Khama). Just on the verge of the 2019 General Election, Khama, who had retired after serving his two five-year terms, facilitated the formation of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) after falling out with Masisi with the view to ousting the BDP from power. His regional party was, however, able to remove the BDP from its traditional strongholds in the vast Central District.
The party won three parliamentary seats in Serowe at its first attempt and made several assists within the Central District in particular paving way for the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the UDC. In the past immediate polls, the BPF registered growth by winning five seats. The leadership of Masisi seemingly took things for granted simply banishing itself from the Central District and this in a way solidified the BPF grip in the area. Matters worse, the appointment of a Serowe native, Kgotla Autlwetse (Minister of Local Government and Rural Development) to preside amongst others over the dismantling of the Central District could not help the situation and the somewhat ruthless Autlwetse left Bangwato so enraged that they did not want anything to do with the BDP. The BDP leadership under Masisi did not seem to see the value of healing the political wounds inflicted by their indiscretion and naivety. Autlwetse also could not hide his hatred for Khama and his choice of appointments at the GammaNgwato kgotla. He chose to appoint people opposed to Khama’s approval further causing confusion in the bogosi. Unlike before, Masisi does not seem to have any more stamina left to support anyone vying for the BDP presidency, not even his former vice president Slumber Tsogwane (formerly party chairperson), whom he had previously touted as his possible successor if he were to complete his two five-year terms, which was never to be. Masisi no longer has the political appeal he had exuded when he took over as the BDP president and State president, a gifted orator who could move mountains. He was seen as a unifying factor in the party but over time he proved to be more of a liability as throughout his presidency, there was one main issue that dominated his presidency - the Khama bashing, to the extent of concocting charges against his former boss. Khama was implicated in the infamous weapons of war and the P100 billion case, which never saw the light of the day. This was the last blow to the strength that Masisi had. Masisi recently blasted the diamond giant De Beers accusing it to have aided the UDC to unseat his party from 58 years of (mis) rule.
The diamond giant quickly responded to Masisi’s allegations distancing itself from any political sabotage as alleged by the enraged Masisi. His diatribe, which could not spare the local media, comes at a time when the BDP, a centre-right political organization, is readying itself for an elective congress billed for Maun next month. This is a do-or-die meeting where the elected leaders will have to work very hard to turn around the fortunes of a party that has experienced the worst in its lifetime by terribly losing the elections. Mpho Balopi, Tsgogwane, Nonofo Molefhi, and Ame Makoba are in the race for the BDP presidency. Whoever wins will have to face the burden of resuscitating the crumbled fortunes of the once mighty BDP. The winner will have to fully know why the people rejected the BDP in such large numbers, as the blame game will not provide answers at all. In a recent interview, the BDP secretary-general, Ngaka Ngaka, was upbeat that ahead of the Maun congress, the BDP is on point. He highlighted that preparations for their crucial meet are going on well across the party regions. “As a party, we really stand for peace as we need each other in the process of rebuilding the BDP. We encourage all the members to take their positions and defend the party at all costs,” he had said. University of Botswana’s retired lecturer in politics and administrative studies, Adam Mfundisi, says there are numerous and varied reasons, factors, and assumptions on the dismal performance of the ‘moribund’ BDP. According to him, the BDP could have lost power at the end of the 1980s, but due to incumbency factors, it survived. The split of the BNF and the creation of the BCP he says further weakened opposition prowess. In addition, “the first split of the BDP led to the establishment of the BMD heralded the demise of the BDP. Moreover, corporate funding of the BDP further entrenched its grip on power.” “Masisi’s administration disappointed many of the rank and file voters in that he promised lots of things but failed to live to people's expectations. His administration became the epicentre of alleged massive corruption and maladministration, contrary to his political rhetoric,” notes the public policy analyst.
He also holds a view that political narcissism dominated the Masisi rule, leading to alleged rampant corruption, which exacerbated socio-economic and political woes. Mfundisi accuses Masisi to have not displayed the character and leadership qualities of a president. He cited his utterances in public to have annoyed and discouraged many potential voters. “He was a divisive, partisan, and polarising figure within the BDP and beyond. He led a divided party contrary to political propaganda of the government media and some sections of the private media,” said Mfundisi. Masisi’s alleged political rhetoric and political persecution of his political opponents is listed to have contributed to many losing faith and trust in the BDP. The botched constitutional review process isolated many potential voters. In addition, the controversial Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) contributed to the loss by opposing monitoring and observation of the electoral process. “The birth of a pressure group within the UDC called Madibela-Tlhopho popularised opposition parties, in particular the UDC. It became the vanguard to protect the polls and contributed to ensuring integrity of the electoral process. All in all, voters wanted change by all means possible, and they delivered a political tsunami that hit the BDP hard,” he concluded.