She is the first woman to serve as the BCP chairperson after previously serving the party in different capacities. Rapelana told Mmegi that what makes her smile everyday is the growth of her party from the time they formed it after defecting from the Botswana National Front (BNF) in 1998 to this day. “No one has pushed me out. I believe I have done my part for the growth of this party and it is time now I give others a chance to make their contribution. I want to thank the BCP members for believing in me all these 23 years and allowing me to be their leader.
You gave me amazing support through all the party ranks until I became your chairperson from 2013 to-date,” she said. “Being a party chairperson is not an easy thing because it is your responsibility to run the party just like the president and to intervene when there are internal party fights. You have to be strong and objective all the time. In all decisions that I made, the members have not undermined me because I am a woman. Today I step down from the leadership being proud simply because of you. “Go botlhokwa go tlogela maemo o santse o kgona go ikakanyetsa.” She said her responsibility is to groom the young ones, especially women who are willing to become future leaders for tomorrow. The former BCP leader said it is their responsibility as experienced women in politics to ensure that they groom women because some youth are capable to be future leaders of tomorrow but they only need a skill for what is best for them to do.
