Scratching Scars Of Palapye Debacle Wounds

Even though UDC president and Botswana National Front (BNF) leader, Duma Boko later claimed the infamous 1998 ‘Palapye Debacle’ never crossed his mind as he drove to Palapye, many in opposition will never forget what happened here 23 years ago.

It was at Palapye Community Hall that the BNF members during Easter holidays in 1998 went into a bare-knuckle fight that eventually led to the formation of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP). Returning to Palapye was therefore akin to the Botswana Movement of Democracy (BMD) returning to Bobonong to sort out their problems following the 2017 bloodbath at Matshekge Hill School.