Political parties that fail to recognise this simple fact are all too often condemned to the dustbin of history. The Nationalist Party of South Africa disappeared into oblivion after it failed, whilst trying hard, to remake itself into a modern party that many South Africans could relate to. In the mid-90s, the opposition Botswana National Front became one of the most popular parties this country ever had, to the point that it threatened to unseat the ruling party. As the BNF grabbed constituency after constituency from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, the BDP found it necessary to remake itself in order to become much more relevant to the demands of the modern Botswana voter.
Whether it was successful or not remains a topic for political analysis. However, the lesson is that parties that are serious about playing a meaningful role in the politics of our times tend to remake themselves whenever they are threatened by the changing demands of the society. With the passage of time, the BNF and Botswana People's Party before it, appeared to lose the ability to respond and adapt to the concerns of the time.
