Ministers target party power seats
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday July 18, 2025 11:37
The congresses are not only shaping up to be internal tests of strength but also serve as a reflection of growing ambition amongst several Cabinet Ministers who are actively seeking top party leadership roles.
In both parties, critical positions such as vice president and secretary-general are up for grabs.
These posts are not merely symbolic; they are the operational heart of any political movement, responsible for steering strategy, managing internal structures, and ensuring cohesion between the party’s goals and government performance.
As a result, the entry of ministers into the races has set the political stage abuzz with excitement, speculation, and growing concern.
At the BNF congress, the contest for vice president has drawn significant attention as Minister of State President, Moeti Mohwasa, squares off against Minister of Justice and correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana.
Both men are well-established figures in the ruling alliance and command sizeable support amongst the delegates.
Meanwhile, another heavyweight battle is unfolding for the position of secretary-general, where Minister of Health, Stephen Modise will face Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa.
These contests are expected to be highly competitive, with voting blocs from various regions and youth leagues already rallying behind their preferred candidates.
At the AP, Minister of Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi who is vice president, is defending his position which is being challenged by party activist, Theresa Mmolawa.
Incumbent secretary-general, Dr. Phenyo Butale is expected to face Edwin Makwati and Tiisetso Masasa. These contests are equally intense, especially as AP seeks to reassert its relevance within the UDC and broaden its influence heading into the next general elections.
Another interesting contest is for party presidency, as the State Vice President, Ndaba Gaolathe faces Dlamini Kwapa. However, as ministers continue to eye these key party posts, the reaction from some party members and the wider public has been mixed.
While many acknowledge the leadership capabilities of the individuals involved, concerns are mounting over their capacity to manage dual responsibilities effectively.
Being a Cabinet Minister in itself is an intense, full-time commitment, and assuming powerful roles within political parties could risk over-extension of personnel.
This concern is not without merit. Within the structure of political parties, especially in large coalitions such as the UDC, the role of secretary-general is far from ceremonial.
It is administrative and strategic in nature, involving the coordination of national political activities, maintaining discipline within party ranks, overseeing the functionality of regional and constituency structures, and ensuring consistent engagement with grassroots supporters.
One of the key expectations of a secretary-general is the delivery of the “state of the party” report at every congress, which serves as a critical reflection on the party’s internal health, outreach programmes, policy focus, and readiness for governance.
The weight of these expectations is made heavier by the reality that, in recent years, some affiliate party structures, particularly at grassroots level, have grown inactive or even collapsed.
In such a climate, any incoming secretary-general will be expected to not only maintain operations but also revive lost momentum and restore party credibility across all levels.
At the same time, the secretary-general, along with the party chairperson, play a central role in ensuring that government policies align with the party’s manifesto and broader political vision.
That responsibility involves constant coordination with government ministries, monitoring policy implementation, and ensuring that the promises made to citizens during campaigns are being honored in real time. Overlaying these party responsibilities are the existing duties that ministers must already fulfill within government.
These responsibilities are significant and cannot be taken lightly. Ministers are senior members of the Executive arm of government charged with leading specific ministries and sectors that are essential to national development.
Their first duty is the formulation and implementation of policies that serve public interest. Working alongside technocrats, civil servants, and stakeholders, ministers are responsible for ensuring that national goals are translated into tangible programs, laws, and services.
Additionally, ministers must oversee the internal administration of their ministries, which includes managing large teams, supervising ongoing projects, allocating resources, and ensuring accountability within their departments.
They are also expected to provide guidance to the President or Cabinet, offering sector-specific insights that shape national direction.
In Parliament, ministers must actively participate by defending budgets, answering policy questions, tabling bills, and representing their ministries during oversight sessions.
Their public role is equally vital. Ministers act as the face of government in their respective portfolios.
They are tasked with explaining government policies to the public, handling media inquiries, attending community meetings, and responding to emergencies or controversies within their portfolios.
Furthermore, inter-ministerial coordination is critical, ministers must frequently work with colleagues from other departments to ensure that policies are not contradictory and that services are delivered efficiently.
In some cases, ministers are also required to represent the country on the international stage.
Whether at regional conferences, multilateral forums, or bilateral negotiations, ministers act as ambassadors for Botswana’s interests, advocating for development funding, climate commitments, tourism partnerships, and trade opportunities. With such a broad scope of responsibilities, critics argue that it may be unrealistic to expect ministers to commit the necessary energy and time to top political party posts.
They warn that divided attention could weaken both the effectiveness of government ministries and the internal strength of the political party, especially at a time when political cohesion and service delivery are under intense public scrutiny.
Nonetheless, the upcoming elective congresses will move forward. For the ministers seeking dual roles in government and party leadership, this weekend will serve as a political litmus test.
Their victories or defeats will not only reshape the leadership landscape within BNF and AP but also send a clear message about how party members view the balancing act between governance and party administration.
Meanwhile, when speaking at Botswana Economic Transformation Programme launch on Tuesday this week, President Duma Boko said; “I'm not asking for change. I'm demanding it. We will introduce a presidential delivery dashboard every week. The Vice President and I will review implementation progress with the ministers and report to the nation every quarter, to the private sector.”
Boko also said they are replacing traditional processes, heavy planning with a bold implementation-based model, one that begins with action, assigns responsibility and ends with results.
He, however, said ministries will no longer operate on vague mandates and exaggerated expectations, but will work with specific time bound and measurable targets.
He said each institution will be accountable for tangible products and outcomes fully aligned with the precepts of vision 2036 as well as the more proximate pathways set out in the manifesto of the UDC.