BCP launches southern comeback campaign
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 15, 2025 13:03
The opposition party wants to reclaim its space in the southern part of the country and to build lasting political momentum ahead of the 2029 General Election. In line with that, the Dumelang Saleshando-led BCP that last contested the constituency in 2014 has fielded Tshepang Brooks for Kgalagadi South by-election.
The party then set out the 2019 General Election in the constituency due to internal opposition coalition arrangements that saw the area allocated to the Botswana National Front (BNF) under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Now, five years later, the BCP is back, and making no apologies for its ambitions.
“This is a strategic re-entry,” said BCP spokesperson, Mpho Pheko.
“Our participation is not accidental. It is a deliberate part of our ‘Going South’ strategy, which focuses on growing our influence and presence in southern constituencies. Kgalagadi South is central to that vision,” she added.
The by-election, triggered by a vacancy in the constituency, is being framed by the BCP not simply as a contest for one seat, but as a broader campaign to reignite the party’s southern base.
It also wants to demonstrate its electoral seriousness across all corners of Botswana.
Pheko emphasised that the people of Kgalagadi South have been without consistent, people-centred leadership, something the BCP claims it is uniquely positioned to provide.
“The community deserves quality representation and policies that reflect their real needs. The BCP has always stood for service delivery, democratic accountability, and grassroots development. This by-election gives us a chance to bring that record directly to the people,” she said.
Far from being a symbolic gesture, the party is confident that it stands a real and competitive chance of winning the seat.
According to Pheko, internal assessments and community engagements have revealed strong support for the party’s message and renewed interest in its campaign.
“Our members on the ground are energised, and our structures are intact. We are going into this by-election not as underdogs, but as contenders ready to earn the trust of the people,” she said.
Part of the BCP’s confidence stems from the popularity and credibility of its candidate, who has deep roots in the constituency.
The party has formally unveiled its candidate to the national public, local resident, who is known well for his contributions to development initiatives and his longstanding service through professional and community-based projects.
“This is not a paper candidate. He is someone who has walked alongside the people of Kgalagadi South, responding to their needs and delivering tangible results. His track record speaks louder than promises,” Pheko stated.
While the party’s presence in the constituency had quieted following the 2019 arrangement under the UDC, Pheko made it clear that the political reality has now shifted.
The BCP, she said, will no longer sideline itself for the sake of cooperation deals that weaken its visibility and growth.
“Our growth was temporarily paused when we stepped aside in 2019, but that era is over. This by-election is the beginning of a reawakening. We are rebuilding structures, reconnecting with our base, and laying the foundation for long-term engagement,” she said.
Furthermore, she said the BCP has already begun mobilizing its national machinery in support of the campaign. Senior leadership figures are expected to descend on the constituency in the coming weeks, and preparations are underway for an intensive ground operation designed to reach every ward and voter.
Pheko also used the occasion to remind the public of the BCP’s founding purpose: to contest and win state power through democratic means.
She said voters should expect to see the party in every election between now and 2029, with no more strategic withdrawals or half-hearted alliances.
“We are done sitting out. We will be on every ballot. We are returning to the Batswana with a clear and consistent message, the BCP is here to serve, to lead, and to build a Botswana that works for all, not just the connected few,” she declared.