Parties gear up for by-election battle
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday August 11, 2025 12:18
Dr. Chimbombi, who won the seat under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) banner in 2024 General Election, was laid to rest on Saturday at Makopong, his home village.
His death has triggered renewed political activity as parties eye the now vacant parliamentary seat.
The UDC is expected to defend the seat, which it secured in the last polls. While the coalition is yet to formally announce its strategy, speculation is rife that it is already working behind the scenes to retain the constituency. Former ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has wasted no time in declaring its intention to contest. “We will field a candidate. The BDP will contest the Kgalagadi South bye-election as a political party,” confirmed BDP secretary- general, Kentse Rammidi in an interview this week.
He, however, said Dr. Chimbombi has recently been buried and it will not be appropriate for them to start talking about bye-election as it looks insensitive.
Also entering the fray is the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), which has been vocal about its readiness to contest and the need for democratic reforms in how bye-elections are conducted.
In an interview, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) secretary-general, Goretetse Kekgonegile, said the party sees Kgalagadi South constituency as more than just a political opportunity, it is a platform to reaffirm its vision for a better Botswana. “As a government in waiting, the BCP has a duty to share its message of hope with the nation,” he said. “Kgalagadi South presents a critical opportunity to further our mandate of delivering progressive, people-centred policies that improve the lives of Batswana,” he stated. Kekgonegile also disclosed that the BCP has already formed a task force to assess the constituency and recommend strategies that will guide the party’s campaign efforts. “We have deployed a team to engage with the constituency, understand the political terrain, and advise on the best way forward,” he added.
However, emphasising the party’s decentralised decision-making approach, Kekgonegile said the constituency will be the one to determine whether the BCP contests and who the candidate would be. “In the BCP, leadership does not impose candidates. It is the people on the ground who make that decision, and the leadership simply affirms it,” he said. “This bottom-up approach is fundamental to how we operate.”
The BCP has also raised concerns over the lack of legal clarity regarding the timing of parliamentary bye-elections.
While council vacancies are legally required to be filled within 90 days, no such provision exists for MPs, leaving the decision largely in the hands of the sitting President. “In the past, the President has only announced a bye-election date after his party was fully prepared. That is neither democratic nor transparent,” said Kekgonegile. “We have always condemned this arrangement.” He went on to challenge the UDC, now the holder of the vacant seat, to follow through on its promises of reform.
“We urge the UDC to walk its talk. As a party that claims to champion democracy, it must now push for a legislative review that ends this unfair practice,” he said. Kekgonegile concluded by calling on President Duma Boko to act swiftly and decisively.
“We demand that the President announces the date for the by-election with immediate effect. The people of Kgalagadi South deserve clarity and certainty,” he said. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse said; “the MP for Kgalagadi North, will also be responsible to look after Kgalagadi South in the event it does not have a Member of Parliament.”