The UDC comprises of the Alliance for Progressives (AP), the Botswana National Front (BNF), and the Botswana People's Party (BPP). This new found momentum has brought an influx of applications, with each affiliate reporting no fewer than 50-100 new members every week. For the first time in their history, the parties are seeing such a dramatic rise, fuelled in part by defectors from rival political organisations. Seizing this moment, all the UDC affiliates have launched robust membership drives to sustain the growth. However, the unprecedented expansion has prompted the parties to enforce stricter adherence to their constitutional procedures.
According to party spokespersons, these measures aim to ensure a seamless integration of new members while maintaining organisational integrity. Notably, individuals aspiring to contest for party positions will need to exercise patience, as they must first meet the stipulated requirements before being considered. This wave of enthusiasm underscores the coalition’s growing influence and cements its position as a transformative force in the country’s political arena. According to the BNF spokesperson, Tumelo Legase, many of these applications come from individuals defecting from other political parties, and former members seeking to rejoin after previously leaving the party. In an interview with this publication on Monday, Legase revealed that over 100 membership applications have already been submitted. "The wards are still processing some of these applications," Legase explained. "They are responsible for making recommendations to the party’s central committee (CC) since they know these individuals better. They need to provide honest assessments because we don't want divisive characters within the party. The wards can recommend whether to accept or reject an application," Legase.
