Congress to determine BPF ’s alliance with UDC :: Mmegi Online

As the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) heads toward its crucial elective congress on November 1 in Serowe, the party stands on the verge of a defining moment. This could determine whether it reclaims a seat at the ruling coalition’s table or continues on a solitary, uncertain path, writes Mmegi Staffer SPIRA TLHANKANE.

The contest between incumbent president Mephato Reatile and secretary-general Lawrence Ookeditse is more than just a leadership battle; it is a struggle for the ideological and strategic soul of the BPF.

The BPF was born out of dissent, a breakaway movement from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), carrying with it both the promise of reform and the burden of fragmentation. Under the leadership of Reatile, the party took a bold, some say reckless decision to pull out of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition just months before the 2024 general election.

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