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.
