Attendees didn't hesitate to highlight how the leadership's failures contributed to the party's colossal election losses at the 2024 national polls. "We lost due to swing votes, which were heavily influenced by the BDP itself in numerous ways," said Gaborone North constituency secretary, Boipelo Seitlhamo, when reflecting on the factors behind the party's defeat. She added that constituency-based consultations had taken place, where members shared their observations and experiences.
These, she claimed, had damaged the BDP’s image, tarnished its credibility, diminished respect for the party, and eroded voter trust. According to the position paper she read, these factors are believed to have disillusioned many Batswana, with a significant number of disgruntled members—especially those excluded from primary elections—turning to the opposition. The turn of events ultimately lead to the party’s defeat and the hands of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Seitlhamo emphasised that, for the BDP to recover and rise again, it is crucial to first reflect honestly on the factors that led to its decline. "This reflection must be done with the utmost honesty to prevent further decline," the paper reads. Still in the Gaborone North constituency, members felt that favouritism and disruptive suspension of candidates by the leadership, and the perceived preferred candidates over others further divided the members like in the case of the Edwin Dikoloti and Peggy Serame saga.
This, according to the paper, is one of the examples that affected the party at the polls. Another thing that Gaborone North constituents felt had contributed to the party's loss was the disconnection between party leadership and ground structures. They felt there was a noticeable amongst the party chairperson, the secretariat office, and the party structures on the ground. According to Seitlhamo, the lack of leadership visibility hindered the party's ability to provide adequate guidance for the primary process and lost momentum to attract voters at the general elections. However, sources revealed that members from the Gaborone Central constituency suggested that party president Mokgweetsi Masisi shouldn't interfere in the upcoming party elective congress. They also criticised the party’s interference in lower-structure elections, alleging it influenced the outcome of primary elections to favour certain candidates.
A source within the party stated that other constituencies also blamed the party's loss on the leadership. "The members had requested the party leadership to stop trying to influence members on whom to vote or try to campaign for anyone. They have pleaded with them that they want a free and fair election at the congress if indeed they want to revive the party and want it to win the coming general elections for 2029," the source said. In that regard, the members, however, expressed concern according to a source on how they view some of the issues. "It is shocking that the leadership isn't prepared to accept the blame and only wants to pinpoint fingers at some members. "Why are they touring the regions if they strongly believe that it is members who are wrong? The BDP has a long way to go if matters are still treated that way," the source added.
