Dow gets BCP women endorsement ahead of poll
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday July 7, 2026 12:20
The call comes as the race for the opposition party’s vice presidency gathers momentum ahead of the party's elective conference slated for July holidays. Campaigning is intensifying between Dow and the incumbent vice president Taolo Lucas, who is seeking another term in office.
The Women's League's decision to openly endorse Dow has surprised many observers and injected fresh energy into the contest.
Equally, it breaks from the tradition where party structures refrained from publicly taking sides during internal elections.
Significantly, the endorsement has also highlighted the broader debate about women's representation in political leadership.
The Women's League argues that the time has come for capable females to occupy influential decision-making positions within both the party and the country.
In a recent statement the league described Dow as the type of leader required to guide the party into the future.
'Today we present Unity Dow as one who exemplifies such leadership,' reads the statement issued by Women's League president, Tshimologo Dingake.
'Her courage, legal expertise, and unwavering commitment to justice have left a lasting imprint on the nation. Representation alone is no longer sufficient. What the country now needs is leadership that drives measurable, lasting change.'
According to the Women's League, Dow's leadership credentials extend beyond symbolic representation, arguing that her record in public service demonstrates competence, integrity, and the ability to deliver meaningful reforms.
Furthermore, the league maintained that despite the availability of highly qualified women, political leadership in Botswana continues to be dominated by men due to longstanding institutional barriers.
The Women's League argued that women remain underrepresented in political decision-making, not because those capable are in short supply, but because structural obstacles continue to exist within political systems and party leadership pipelines.
It said these barriers have for years prevented many deserving women from advancing into influential positions despite their qualifications and experience.
Consequently, the league believes the BCP has an opportunity to distinguish itself by championing gender-inclusive leadership through the election of Dow.
Dingake said if the BCP is genuinely committed to inclusive development, it has both the opportunity and the obligation to lead by example from within its own structures.
'The BCP has both the opportunity and the responsibility to demonstrate that inclusive leadership is not merely a slogan but a practical commitment,' she stated.
The Women's League president further argued that leadership in contemporary politics should no longer be determined by gender, popularity, or historical patterns.
She said it should rather de determine by competence, integrity, and the proven ability to transform institutions.
'Leadership nowadays must be defined by competence, integrity, and the demonstrated ability to transform institutions,' Dingake added.
The endorsement is expected to further intensify what is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests at the upcoming elective conference.
Lucas, who currently serves as the party's vice president, is seeking to retain his position against Dow, whose entry into the race has attracted significant interest both within the party and amongst political observers.
Although the Women's League's declaration does not determine the outcome of the election, it could influence delegates, particularly women, as they prepare to elect the party's next leadership.
The move also signals a shift in internal party dynamics, with one of the BCP's key structures openly advocating for a candidate instead of maintaining the traditional neutrality that has characterised previous internal contests.
With only weeks remaining before delegates converge for the elective conference, campaigns are expected to intensify as both camps seek to consolidate support across the party's structures.