Tumultuous end to Masisi's one-term legacy

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday May 7, 2025 06:00

Masisi, the former president of Botswana and the fifth leader of the BDP, will officially hand over leadership, closing a controversial and historic chapter in the party’s annals. His tenure is etched in record books for all the wrong reasons. Not only did he serve as the first former ruling party’s president to govern the country for a single term, but he also became the first to lose a general election whilst seeking re-election.

This unprecedented defeat sent shockwaves through the party’s ranks, prompting calls from disillusioned members for sweeping change.

In response, the BDP Central Committee (CC) was pushed to fast-track an elective congress, even though many lower party structures were still not fully operational.

The move highlighted the growing urgency amongst members to restore direction and credibility within the party’s leadership.

The decision to hold the congress earlier than scheduled was a clear signal: the party wanted to turn the page on a fractured era.

When Masisi first assumed the presidency in 2019, his message was one of hope and unity. Under the theme 'BDP Unity and Inclusivity Towards a Prosperous Botswana – 2019 and Beyond', he laid out a vision for a cohesive and forward-looking party.

However, what followed was a reality riddled with internal strife, factionalism and discontent.

The cracks in the BDP’s foundation became evident during the party’s primary elections, where bitter infighting and unresolved disputes sowed discord amongst members.

By the time the 2024 General Election rolled around, the damage was done.

Disenchanted supporters, tired of the chaos crossed the floor, casting their votes for the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), ultimately delivering the BDP a stinging defeat.

Adding to the turbulence of Masisi’s leadership was his very public fallout with his predecessor, Ian Khama.

Once allies, the two quickly became adversaries in a bitter power struggle that played out in full view of the nation following Masisi's ascendance to the presidency.

Khama, who had handed Masisi the baton of leadership, later turned into his fiercest critic.

In a dramatic twist, Khama vowed to ensure Masisi would serve only one term as President, a promise that, in the end, proved prophetic.

The Masisi-Khama feud not only exposed deep rifts within the BDP but also diverted attention from governance, undermining public confidence in the party.

What started as a transition of leadership ended in a power tussle that split loyalties and reshaped Botswana’s political landscape. In hindsight, Masisi’s leadership was a mixture of bold ambitions and political miscalculations.

His downfall wasn't merely a result of electoral loss, but a culmination of strained relationships, strategic errors, and a failure to manage the unity he had once promised.

In 2019, the former president and some BDP members resigned from the party and formed a new one-- the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). The BPF won seats in the Central District where it used by then to be known as the heart of the BDP.

Although, some were in denial within the BDP about BPF’s damage to the former ruling party, in terms of weakening it, the damage became worse in 2024 as it penetrated other strong BDP areas.

Whilst some BPF sympathisers within BDP were also there and now some BDP members want the new central committee members who are going to be voted over the weekend, to make reconciliation with the Khama family and other former party members.

Now, as the BDP braces for a new era, many are hopeful that the upcoming congress will usher in fresh leadership capable of healing the party’s wounds and restoring its legacy.

For Masisi, the weekend’s handover will be more than a ceremonial farewell, it will be a moment of reflection on a presidency that promised much but delivered a divided and diminished political movement.