Masisi takes responsibility for BDP’s 2024 electoral loss
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday May 14, 2025 06:00
Speaking at the Maun elective congress on Saturday, Masisi stated, “All of us, in our own way, have shaped this result. Yet true leadership is about stepping forward, owning our part, and shouldering the responsibility so that those who follow inherit an organisation anchored in strength, clarity, and unity. As party president, I own that outcome fully. Democracy demands not merely victory but accountability, and it is in moments of defeat that leadership is most clearly tested.” Furthermore, he said they campaigned with conviction and fully expected victory, yet the outcome was not theirs. “I felt the enormity of my responsibility, despite intermission, to concede to keep the peace,' he said.
Moreover, he revealed that it was absolutely essential to maintain Botswana’s internationally reputed integrity of democratic dispensation and seamless transitions of power since 1966. Whilst pointing out that Botswana remains the oldest multi-party democracy in Africa and it is a position that should be zealously guarded. The former president reminded party members that they have long entrusted the same electoral system when it delivered success; for the sake of peace, stability, and the nation’s future, it was only right to uphold it in defeat and follow the same process. However, he highlighted that he is eternally grateful that, despite their disappointment, BDP accepted the results which enabled for a smooth, peaceful transfer of power in history. In addition, he said by meeting this moment with humility and putting Botswana’s interests above their own, they remained true to the very principles woven into the BDP’s character. On that, the former president revealed that though 2024 results were disappointing but they are far from being the signal of the end of the BDP. He continued: “We remain the country’s largest political movement, with roots that stretch deeper than any single election and a record of achievement no rival can match. Considering the numbers in their proper light, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) secured 37% of the popular vote, whilst we earned 30% which is a gap of just 56,230 votes, barely seven percent in a nation of more than two million of which the majority was registered to vote.”
He said that margin is significant in terms of forming government, yet it is entirely bridgeable. Also emphasising that with disciplined listening, honest learning, and active re engagement in every ward, they can transform it into a platform for victory. He said they should treat this moment as the turning point that equips us for a confident return to service in 2029 and well beyond. 'Our roots are strong, our legacy is solid, and our future guided by unity, humility, and hard work remains bright,' he said. With that regard, Masisi said they must restore the discipline of grassroots dialogue.
As a collaborative effort to restore the glory days of the ‘mighty’ BDP, Masisi said that party members should refrain from pointing fingers at each trying to fault each other. “The BDP must leave this congress as one cohesion not foes. We are one remember that always. We should move away from bickering because the work starts now for 2029,” Masisi urged BDP members. Masisi said they must open their doors wider to the next generation. He revealed that the digital age has transformed the way people organise, communicate, and create value. “If our Youth Wing is not a laboratory of ideas on artificial intelligence, clean technology, and creative industries, then we will have failed to prepare for the Botswana that is already emerging,” he said.