BPF to decide on UDC cooperation next year
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday January 14, 2026 06:00
BPF chairperson, Baratiwa Mathoothe, said in an interview that their relationship with the UDC remains as it is at the moment.
He clarified to The Monitor yesterday that, whilst the two parties currently work together within government structures, no formal resolution has yet been taken regarding the long-term model of their political relationship.
The current UDC affiliates are the Botswana National Front, the Alliance for Progressives, and the Botswana People’s Party.
Mathoothe noted that such a decision lies solely with the party’s highest decision-making body, the congress.
“At the moment, our relationship with the UDC remains as it is,” he said.
“The congress last year agreed that before we could make any far-reaching decisions, we needed to first clean our house.”
He explained that the party is still grappling with internal challenges that require attention and resolution.
As a result, he noted that rushing into a formalised cooperation framework could negatively affect the party’s public image and organisational stability.
“Remember, we still have issues that the party has to resolve or deal with first,” he said. “In that case, it does not give us a good image.”
Furthermore, Mathoothe pointed out that focusing on internal renewal would allow the BPF to consolidate its structures, strengthen unity, and expand its support base. In addition, he said organisational growth must take precedence before the party commits itself to any binding political arrangements.
In this context, he reiterated that the authority to determine the party’s future relationship with the UDC rests entirely with the congress.
“The congress is the one that has the power to make a decision on what kind of relationship we want with the UDC,” he stressed.
However, despite the absence of a formal agreement, Mathoothe was quick to emphasise that cooperation between the two parties is already taking place at the governance level.
He revealed that the BPF and the UDC routinely engage with one another through council and parliamentary caucuses, where they work collectively on government business.
“UDC and BPF do meet in all council and parliamentary caucuses, and this cooperation plays a big role in the running of government,” he said.
According to Mathoothe, this collaboration ensures continuity in governance and enables the parties to align on policy matters affecting citizens, whilst broader political questions remain under consideration.
Meanwhile, Mathoothe also addressed public perceptions surrounding occasional criticism of the UDC by individuals associated with the BPF. He clarified that such remarks should not be interpreted as the party’s official position.
He emphasised that individuals who sometimes attack or criticise the UDC are doing so in their personal capacities and not on behalf of the party. “That is not the party’s stand,” he said.
Mathoothe’s remarks come amidst growing public interest in the future of opposition politics and coalition arrangements in the country, particularly following the UDC’s role in government and the evolving dynamics amongst partner parties.
As political observers continue to speculate about the direction the BPF may take, Mathoothe’s comments suggest that the party is opting for a cautious and measured approach, prioritising internal consolidation before making any binding political commitments.
Ultimately, the much-anticipated decision on whether the BPF will formalise, redefine, or maintain its current working relationship with the UDC will be placed before delegates when the party convenes its congress next year.