BDP rebuffs claims by Boko that Domkrag is dead
Larona Makhaiza - Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday March 11, 2026 11:24
In an interview with this publication following Boko's remarks, BDP Executive Secretary Ame Makoba countered that the remark reflects Duma Boko’s own anxiety, insisting he is 'speaking from a place of worry'.
Over the weekend at the Botswana National Front (BNF) Leadership Forum, Boko, who doubles as BNF and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president, decreed that BDP is a dead party and has no chance of retaining power in the next few years.
“Domkrag e seka ya le tshosa, it is dead. Ruling parties tse di tshwanang le yone yee tse di tshidileng ka tshenyo le tshenyetso setshaba le go ikhumisa ga e re ga di tswa mo pusong abo di ka tshela lobaka. It is a dead organisation, it has no future,” Boko declared. Which loosely translates to, 'BDP should not scare you, it is dead. Ruling parties like the BDP that have defrauded the nation and enriched themselves do not have a chance to survive such predicaments. It is a dead organisation, it has no future.'
Boko emphasised that UDC inherited a lot of challenges that emanated from the past regime, including dilapidated buildings, and a shortage of medications that hit the country due to the mere fact that there were no economic buffers.
“Leadership is not an easy task, even if the country’s economy is grappling, we have to find ways to revive it. If we meet the majority of the things that we had promised Batswana, then the opposition will have nothing to talk about. We found an economy which was on its knees, infrastructure dilapidated, no reserves, and we are starting to rebuild our economy as the country was relying mostly on diamonds,” he said.
Following the utterances made by Boko during the BNF leadership forum, Makoba said Boko is speaking from a place of panic that BDP might reclaim regime power come 2029.
In addition, Makoba wondered where Boko gets the time to even worry about BDP in his busy schedule.
“If BDP were dead, President Boko would have no time to talk about it. He talks about it because he is worried about the strength that it showed in Palapye,” Makoba said. Makoba further said following the BDP retreat held in Palapye towards the end of February, Boko is losing sleep that Domkrag might topple UDC come 2029. “He is worried because the party is regrouping, and BDP members who voted against it are now heading back to BDP under party president Mpho Balopi. BDP remains the biggest single party, and the President (Boko) knows it,” Makoba said.