The congress was held against the wishes of the Ian Khama faction, with only one of the nine respondents in the court case showing up. This raises questions about the unity of the party, which is crucial if it hopes to win in the 2024 General Election. While party president Biggie Butale emphasised the need for unity and called on members to re-instil the values that brought them together, the reports of members being brought to the congress with promises of food and free t-shirts paint a different picture.
Moreover, the absence of Khama, who was supposed to address party members telephonically on the first day of the congress, raises questions about the former president's role in the party. While Khama has been a prominent figure in BPF gatherings, it seems that his influence is waning. The fact that the t-shirts given to attendees bore Butale's face rather than Khama's is a significant shift and could indicate a change in Butale's leadership.
