BDP unapologetic about Palapye retreat, plans bold 2029 strategy
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 23, 2026 06:08
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Balopi emphasised that the choice of the location was both symbolic and strategic. “Palapye, especially the Gammangwato area, has been the heart of the BDP for years. It is where many of our founders hail from, and that legacy is something we will never shy away from,” he said.
'This is an area where people have always taken immense pride in our history. Even in the past, opposition parties struggled to make inroads here, and it’s no different today,” he said. The BDP president further clarified that despite the party’s enduring relationship with the region, they remain open and inclusive, inviting former party presidents to the retreat.
He said they had written to former presidents Festus Mogae and Mokgweetsi Masisi.This included reaching out to former president Ian Khama, who, Balopi acknowledged, holds the revered title of chief in the area. “We respect his position. He was notified in advance and has been given the option to send a representative,” Balopi confirmed. He said the retreat is not only a chance for the party to honour its history but also an opportunity for the BDP to discuss critical matters concerning its future.
Furthermore, he said a key agenda item is the review of the party’s constitution, a long-discussed but necessary process that will shape the BDP’s operations moving forward. According to Balopi, the constitution review will address several issues affecting the party’s structure and functioning. 'This is part of our commitment to ensuring that the BDP remains relevant, transparent, and adaptable to the ever-changing political landscape,' he noted.
In addition to constitutional matters, he said the party plans to focus on strengthening its policies, with the goal of drafting a comprehensive policy book that will guide the BDP’s direction in the coming years.A major focus of the discussions will be to craft a solid roadmap for the 2029 General Election. 'The 2029 polls are a critical milestone for the party, and we must start preparing now,' Balopi said. Mmegi has learned that part of this strategic preparation includes strengthening the party's grassroots presence. The BDP is committed to ensuring that its structures at every level are robust, well-coordinated, and prepared for the challenges of 2029. “We’re not just looking at the immediate future, but ensuring that the BDP remains a dominant force in Botswana’s political landscape for years to come,” Balopi added.
Balopi also took the opportunity to reaffirm the party’s continued commitment to its founding principles, which have kept the BDP at the forefront of Botswana’s political scene since its formation on February 28, 1962. On other issues, Balopi said the budget outturn is not improving compared to 2023/24 and 2025/26. He said the deficit is deepening and they are getting closer to statutory limits.
Instead, he said government wants to increase tax, therefore households will be struggling. “Even the current President has said in the past that increasing taxes in such an economy is bad,” he said. He, however, said a huge concern is that the budgets for 2025/26 and 2026/27 are struggling to deal with reducing recurrent expenditure to free money for fund BETP. “This is the elephant in the room. Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is too populist to deal with it. Instead they are growing the problem. Government expenditure is increasing but service providers are not being paid,” he said.
Balopi said the ruling party, UDC manifesto seems not to matter anymore. “The promises are clearly unattainable. Suddenly, there’s no social contract, according to the State President,” he said.