DK skips Mogami launch

Kwelagobe once declared that the party is not represented in the constituency after its initial candidate and BDP secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi was suspended by President Ian Khama. Motswaledi was recalled as Gaborone Central parliamentary candidate after accusations that he was disrespectful of Khama. The youthful politician landed in trouble for resisting Khama's attempts to run the BDP unilaterally. He went to court to challenge his suspension and recall as parliamentary candidate but failed to get a reprieve because Khama enjoys presidential immunity from legal proceedings.

The Motswaledi saga has widened the party's factional divide.The Barata-Phathi faction, led by Kwelagobe, sympathised with Motswaledi while blaming the A-Team, associated with Khama for Motswaledi's woes.