BDP Palapye retreat: Storm or second wind?
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday February 27, 2026 11:48
Since its loss in the 2024 General Election, the BDP has been navigating a period of reflection, uncertainty and internal debate. For months, party members across branches and regions have engaged in intense conversations about what went wrong and, more importantly, what must change. Yet, according to BDP executive secretary Ame Makoba, the party has not had sufficient space to confront these issues collectively and without distraction.
“Obviously, since the loss of the 2024 polls, we have not had the opportunity as a party to discuss issues at length at a national level without the distraction of internal elections,” Makoba said in an interview on Tuesday this week. “The retreat presents the party with this much-needed opportunity.” Indeed, internal elections and structural contests for the BDP have, in recent months, overshadowed broader ideological and strategic discussions.
Consequently, he said debates about unity, reform and renewal have often been fragmented. However, the Palapye retreat is expected to consolidate those scattered conversations into one focused national dialogue.
“At present, wherever you go around the country, within the structures of the party amongst the party members, a lot of discussions are ongoing as to how we can make the party more effective, how we can strengthen unity, how we can use our collective skills, knowledge and experiences to resource the party in every regard, and many other topics,” Makoba explained.
Nevertheless, while such conversations have been vibrant at the grassroots level, he said they were yet to unfold formally.
Therefore, according to Makoba, the retreat is being framed as a structured platform to interrogate these issues comprehensively. “So, the retreat offers us an opportunity to sit together as a party with the single purpose of discussing these matters and others that party members raise from time to time in informal settings,” he added.
The stakes could hardly be higher. After decades of political dominance, the BDP’s 2024 electoral setback shook both its leadership and support base. In the aftermath, questions emerged about organisational discipline, communication gaps and whether the party had drifted from its traditional strengths.
While some members advocate for structural reforms, others argue that reconnecting with grassroots supporters must take priority.
Meanwhile, calls for generational renewal and a clearer ideological posture continue to gain traction.
Against this backdrop, the retreat’s theme, “Reconstruction after the storm: Empower structures to revive the spirit of self-reliance and unity”, signals a deliberate attempt to reset the party’s internal compass. Makoba said expectations are unequivocal.
“We expect that we will come back more united as a party.
We expect that we will come back with a clearer path as to what course we should take as a party,” he stated. Furthermore, he emphasised that unity cannot merely be declared; it must be practiced and reinforced through responsibility at every level of the organisation.
“As our theme says... we expect that after this, we will each recall what each member ought to contribute towards advancing the cause of the Botswana Democratic Party,” Makoba said. Party insiders acknowledge that weakened coordination between national leadership and grassroots structures contributed to recent challenges. Therefore, empowering structures as highlighted in the theme are expected to feature prominently in discussions.
“The party president will obviously set the tone with a much looked-forward-to keynote address,” Makoba noted.
Political observers argue that retreats can either solidify unity or entrench divisions, depending on how disagreements are handled.
Conversely, if members embrace constructive engagement, some party members believe the retreat may mark the beginning of a disciplined rebuilding process. For now, Makoba insists the focus is firmly on the future rather than the past.
The objective, he maintains, is to harness the collective skills, experience and institutional memory within the party to reposition it effectively.
As delegates converge in Palapye, the broader political landscape will be watching closely. For a party long associated with stability and governance continuity, this moment carries symbolic weight.
The BDP must demonstrate not only resilience but also adaptability in a changing political environment.
Ultimately, whether this weekend becomes a turning point or a missed opportunity will depend on the sincerity of the introspection and the unity that emerges from it.
The storm may have tested the BDP’s foundations, but in Palapye, the party will attempt to determine whether those foundations can be rebuilt stronger or whether cracks will widen under pressure.