BPP on strategic positioning in the UDC
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday April 24, 2026 14:17
The forum is convened under the theme: “Reviving the BPP, Building Structures and Strengthening the Foundation”. The forum will be held at Tati Siding on Saturday. BPP secretary-general Mmantlha Sankoloba revealed in an interview on Wednesday that the forum would centre on strengthening the party’s influence and relevance within the coalition. “This follows the appointment of four senior BPP representatives to the UDC leadership structure, namely the party president, vice president, national chairperson, and secretary-general,” she said. “This is the first major leadership convergence of the BPP following the 2024 General Election. It brings together the central committee, regional leadership and key stakeholders to assess, reorganise and set the party’s strategic direction.” Sankoloba emphasised that the party is now entering a consolidation phase, aiming to position itself as a credible and value-adding partner within the coalition. She noted that the leadership forum will serve as a platform to identify and prioritise the critical issues that define the BPP’s contribution to the UDC's success and stability. Among the key focus areas is the strategic deployment of qualified and competent cadres to represent the party at the UDC secretariat. This, according to Sankoloba, will ensure effective participation in coalition decision-making processes while reinforcing policy coherence across member parties. Furthermore, the BPP intends to use the forum to advance national issues that align with both its founding principles and the UDC’s 2024 electoral commitments. The goal, according to her, is to ensure that the party’s voice remains impactful in shaping the coalition’s policy direction and governance agenda. Some of the objectives of the forum according to secretary-general include, post-election assessment which are to review the party’s performance within the coalition in the 2024 General Election and realign leadership and structures for effective operation, strategic coalition positioning, to adopt a clear framework that positions the BPP as a credible, value-adding partner within the UDC and in national politics, by-election preparedness such as to finalise mobilisation, resource allocation and campaign strategy for the upcoming Tati Siding by-election, congress roadmap - to approve timelines, guidelines, and modalities for convening regional and national congresses in 2026 and 65th anniversary programme in order to present the programme of activities commemorating 65 years of the BPP as Botswana’s oldest political party and also to launch of strategic milestones. In preparation for the forum, the BPP central committee will convene a special meeting this Friday to finalise outstanding institutional matters. These include deliberations on internal disciplinary proceedings and the completion of the party’s five-year strategic framework for 2026–2031. “The strategic framework, which outlines the party’s long-term vision and operational priorities, is expected to be officially unveiled during the opening session of the leadership forum,” she said. Party insiders say the document will play a pivotal role in guiding the BPP’s internal growth and its engagement within the broader coalition. As the UDC continues to position itself ahead of future political contests, the BPP’s renewed focus on strategy and structure signals its intent to remain a key player within the ruling coalition.. Meanwhile, Mmegi has learnt that the party central committee might also announce the outcome of disciplinary hearings against certain key members, which have been ongoing. The BPP is one of the parties that are very firm on issues of indiscipline, and it does not look back when it believes that someone acts as if they are bigger than the party.