The number of those vying for the position appears to be growing, with five members already publicly expressing their interest. Unlike in the past, when the party was in power, the competition among contenders seems set to be much fierce this time. The current party chairperson, Slumber Tsogwane, along with Dorcas Makgato, Ame Makoba, and Mpho Balopi, have already thrown their hats into the ring. Party insiders suggest that the number of contenders may continue to rise, as others are still in discussions with fellow party members. While some of the declared candidates are diligently working to secure their support lists, time is now of the essence. This urgency has been amplified by the recent change in the schedule for the extraordinary congress, which was initially planned for July. The congress, according to party president Mokgweetsi Masisi, will now take place in Maun. When briefing the media on Tuesday at Maharaja Hotel, Masisi urged party members to actively assist in the preparations, saying, "even if we are going to Maun, I want to urge party members that they need to assist. Life is no longer the same, as those who used to help us are gone due to our loss of power. We now only have four Members of Parliament and fewer councillors who pay monthly subscription fees. Therefore, things are no longer business as usual," he noted.
