AP: The cynosure of all eyes
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday June 30, 2025 06:00
The party’s performance in the 2024 General Election under the realm of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) partnership placed it at an auspicious locus to charm more people to race for party positions.
The AP is a splinter party from the beleaguered Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), which also broke away from the former ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in 2010. Following its splinter from the BMD in 2017 the AP became part of the UDC although it stood on its own in the 2019 polls and performed dismally.
Just like the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), which has adopted lime as its dominant colour away from the usual gold, black and green adopted by many political parties across southern Africa and beyond, the AP has chosen an unlikely purple which seems to be nonetheless resonating well with the party’s diehards.
Whilst the AP contested the 2014 General Election as a partner in the UDC coalition, it would later choose to contest the 2019 polls outside the umbrella only to experience a reversal of its fortunes as it only won a single parliamentary seat through the tried and tested Wynter Mmolotsi of the Francistown South constituency. Mmolotsi is also the vice president of the AP.
First, as part of the ruling UDC government, a giant in the AP was rekindled, leaving the race for party leadership positions jam-packed as operatives also sample their chances for whatever benefits derived from the political relationship.
This development comes at a time when post-2024 General Election alliance partners from the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Peoples Party (BPP), and the AP and by extension a non-UDC coalition partner, Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), were politically energised. They were duly rewarded with Cabinet positions in a government led by President Duma Boko. This is seemingly strong enough to court interested members to try their fold in a party that is now part of the government.
The UDC government led by President Boko, who also dabbles as BNF president, appointed AP president Ndaba Gaolathe as his Vice President for both the UDC and government. This happened after the 2024 historic polls that ousted then 58-year-long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Gaolathe is also Minister of Finance, a crucial portfolio at a time the country is troubled by mounting fiscal challenges. Meanwhile, AP vice president Mmolotsi holds the key portfolio of Environment and Tourism, AP secretary-general Dr Phenyo Butale is the chief diplomat as Foreign Affairs Minister, whilst the party chairperson Pius Mokgware is the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs. Pushie Manyeneng is the National Assembly Deputy Speaker.
With this appreciation from the umbrella body, AP diehards are not taking this development flippantly as they also take advantage to play a role in their party and the UDC. There seems to be a rush within the party as AP members realise the significance of being in a coalition with the other two parties. Ordinarily, the AP elective congress wouldn't have attracted so much notice.
The rush should come with responsibilities, as sometimes overcrowded races attract negativity. Whilst it’s diametrically democratic for party operatives to try their luck at some of the party key positions, including the president, vice president, secretary-general and the treasurer-general, it doesn’t seem urgent now to change AP leadership, especially key decision makers who are also part of the UDC head honchos. UDC leadership is derived from the tri-party coalition, and by far, the coalition partners have not held an elective congress that determines their leadership.
A change of leadership at the AP (less than a year as part of the ruling UDC) might also have a direct bearing on the make-up of the current UDC leadership, which the UDC might not be ready to deal with at this stage. It should also be borne in mind that President Boko has appointed some of the key allies to his Cabinet, as they also play key roles in the party that is in government.
The Gaolathe-led AP leadership cannot object to holding an elective congress, as that is mandatory. The electrified party enthusiasts have to tread with care lest they further spoil their fortunes.
Equally, at the BNF, the main party in the coalition, lobby lists have sprung in the race for the party leadership positions.
Gaolathe’s challenger is Dlamini Kwapa, who comes as a surprise package in an endeavour to uproot the hoi-polloi deep-rooted party president, who, since the formation of the AP, comes across as the favourite for the party leadership. Mmolotsi is facing a challenge from Theresa Mmolawa whilst Butale battles it out with Dr Edwin Makwati. For the party's treasurer-general Dira Moalosi faces compewtion from Casper Ndzimu.
Retired University of Botswana lecturer in politics and administrative studies, Adam Mfundisi told Mmegi this week that the AP is a splinter of the BMD, the latter being an offspring of the BDP.
“ It is a product of factionalism within the BMD. The impending AP elective congress is important for the party, which has had major political gains within the UDC, snatching influential positions with the coalition of political parties,” explained Mfundisi.
“ It garnered the positions of VP and portfolios of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Home Affairs, to mention but a few. These are critical positions within the UDC government which influence public policy. The motivation by members of the AP to contest strategic positions may be influenced by the chances of appointment to government assuming the UDC wins in 2029.”
He observed that people are positioning themselves for the control of the party and the subsequent appointments to key positions in government. Political opportunism, he believes, characterises Botswana's body politics.
“Politicians in Botswana, in the main, use the electoral process to gain political power, which opens up for socio-economic and political gains. They have goals, interests, and values of their own, therefore use electoral regime to pursue them,” he added.
He attributes the surge in members of the AP to contest for party positions being to cement its influence in the UDC. He does not think there will be a major change in the AP leadership. He insists: “The status quo is likely to remain because no drastic changes have taken place in the party since 2024 General Elections Of course, if there is any change, it may marginally affect President Boko's plans at the UDC and government. It will not affect the Executive or Parliament because the elections are in 2029.”
AP chairperson Pius Mokgware, responding to Mmegi enquiries this week, was elated that his party is growing in leaps and bounds, more so that a good number of former BDP operatives are joining the party ranks in good numbers.
“People seem to be associating themselves with the views of the AP as we continue to receive people joining our ranks, especially from the BDP. We are registering more members,” reiterated Mokgware.
The retired military general was elated that AP diehards enjoy their constitutional rights to the extent that the party’s July elective congress will see a good number of party operatives trying their luck in the party polls.
About the interest of possible contestants, Mokgware indicated that, “Well, I take it that AP interest is derived from the visible growth of the party, that is, how the party has been conducting its business, transparently and efficiently.”
He holds a view that AP diehards understand themselves and they know who to vote for even in a crowded race.
“They understand that there is a need to ensure there is stability within both the AP and the UDC. At the end of the day at our party, we respect democracy and the choice of the people in an election,” said Mokgware , insisting that there is no way his party diehards couldn’t respect the current arrangements at both government and the UDC.
He is steadfast that AP members are politically mature and they know what their leaders can offer, and that will be their main influence on the party's election day.