BDP keeps UDC on its toes
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday November 24, 2025 06:00
Typically, when a long-ruling party falls from power, its support base weakens, its structures lose momentum, and its members often become disillusioned. Therefore, expectations for the BDP heading into the recent by-election were modest at best. Yet, despite not emerging victorious, the results revealed a far more resilient political force than many had assumed. To begin with, the vote count itself paints an interesting picture. The BDP secured 3,926 votes, significantly fewer than the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which won the contest with 6,766 votes. Meanwhile, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) collected a modest 99 votes, and an independent candidate gathered 116. Although the BDP did not clinch the seat, the numbers demonstrate an important reality, the BDP remains an active and relevant player in the constituency’s political landscape. What makes these results even more remarkable is the constituency’s recent history. In the 2024 General Election, the late Dr. Micus Chimbombi of the UDC won the seat decisively with 8,700 votes, while the BDP trailed with 6,070.
Given that the UDC had already cemented its dominance there, many expected the gap between the two major parties to widen further in this by-election. Instead, the BDP managed to retain a considerable portion of its previous support. While the UDC still maintained its lead, the BDP’s numbers indicate a level of consistency that defies the narrative of a party on a freefall.Moreover, looking at the constituency’s historical political trajectory adds further depth to the story. Traditionally, this has been a battleground shared primarily between the BDP and the Botswana National Front (BNF), the latter being a key affiliate of the UDC. For decades, electoral competition here has swung between these two forces, with smaller parties playing only peripheral roles. Therefore, the UDC’s recent victories are part of a broader, long-term pattern shaped by the strength of its affiliate, the BNF.
Despite that, the BDP has continued to maintain a substantial foothold in the area, proving its enduring resilience. Transitioning from history to the present political climate, it becomes clear that the BDP’s performance carries deeper implications. After losing national power for the first time in 58 years, many expected the party’s morale to crumble. Internal divisions, defections, and weakened ground structures were all predicted outcomes.
Yet, the by-election results demonstrate that the BDP still commands loyalty among its base. Even while navigating the uncertainties of its new role as an opposition party, the BDP has managed to retain nearly 3,926 votes in a constituency where its influence was expected to diminish sharply. Additionally, the by-election highlighted an important political truth: losing power does not necessarily erase a party’s identity or dismantle its networks overnight. On the contrary, the BDP’s numbers suggest that its supporters remain engaged, committed, and willing to show up, even when the political winds seem to be blowing in another direction.
However, it is equally important to recognise that the UDC continues to strengthen its lead. The UDC not only held onto the constituency but did so with significant numbers, maintaining a wide margin over its rivals. This reflects its continued appeal and the voters’ confidence in its leadership, particularly following Dr. Chimbombi’s impactful tenure. While the BDP may see the by-election results as a sign of survival, the UDC can confidently view them as a reaffirmation of dominance.
Although the BDP did not claim victory in the by-election, the outcome carries a surprisingly positive undertone for the party. Contrary to predictions of collapse or irrelevance, the BDP demonstrated endurance and maintained a respectable share of the vote.
The results show that the party still exists, politically, structurally, and emotionally, within the constituency. While it has not matched the UDC’s growth or momentum, its ability to retain thousands of votes in a challenging environment reveals a core of support that has not eroded as drastically as many anticipated.