The UDC continued to stamp its political authority after its historic victory during the 2024 General Election when it dislodged the BDP, which has been in power for the past 58 years.
The newly elected BALA national elected committee members are councillors Tona Selala (president), Stephen Lekgobero (vice president), Kedibonye Gloria Batlang (treasurer), Sesupo Jacobs (publicity secretary), Kagiso Tshekega (project and fundraising), and Xukiri Xukiri and Gaone Majere (additional members). Selala defeated Tabona Masole and Khumo Sebereko for the presidency with 116, 65 and 71 votes respectively. For the vice presidency, Lekgobero won via 110 votes followed by Outule Segolame and Kealeboga Gaebuse with 56 and 85 votes. Tshekega garnered 136 votes to win the projects and fundraising position. He was followed by Itumeleng Kelebetseng and Johane Chenjekwa with 97 and 15 votes respectively. The treasury position was won by Batlang with 120 votes. Felicity Keleeme came second with 77 votes followed by Moses Otsweleng with 54 votes. Jacobs was elected as the BALA mouthpiece with 111 votes. Jacobs was followed by Atameleng Thaga, Thabo Motholegi and Sean Sebele with 68, 58 and 11 votes respectively.
BALA’s additional members are Xukiri and Majere who were voted by 130 and 103 votes respectively. Shimane Thelo, Oageng Makgosa, Ontefetse Rankhibidu, Kabo Ketshogile and Matlhomola Motsagae were voted by 69, 63, 76, 33 and 34 votes respectively. BALA plays a pivotal role in fostering cooperation and collaboration among local authorities in Botswana. The association promotes community participation and ownership, which is reinforced through the country’s decentralised governance system. BALA provides local authorities with training and capacity building, which ultimately allows them to better serve their communities. BALA is also actively involved in environmental conservation, waste management and renewable energy projects, which demonstrates the authority’s commitment to a sustainable future.
BALA draws its membership from councilors across the political divide and is supposed to serve its members equally. Lesego Kwambala, councillor for Itekeng ward and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who was in the NEC of BALA as Youth Commissiner for two terms (2020 t0 2022 and 2022 to 2024), said that during his time, members of the opposition were also in the NEC as additional members. “During my time, we had councillors Shimane Thelo and Stephen Makhura who were from the opposition. In my view, we should look beyond partisan interests or affiliation when voting for councillors who sit in the NEC of BALA,” said Kwambala. Asked if since BALA draws its membership from parties across the political divide, and if it would have been prudent for the UDC to have left other positions to the opposition so that they can also feel ownership of the association and their voices heard in the National Executive Committee of BALA, Zibani Maundeni, Professor of politics at the University of Botswana (UB) said: “It is difficult to control elections. If the UDC had caucused and agreed that it should take all positions that were on offer it is difficult to control that. It is also difficult to know if the UDC got instructions to sweep all positions on offer from its leadership or not.” Maundeni added: “It is difficult to control how a majority party should vote. But, it would have been wise for the UDC to have left other positions to the minority in order to have a dissenting voice and who would act as advisors to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of BALA. If the minority voice is left out, the UDC councilors deny themselves the opportunity of receiving advice from other opposition parties.” Giving a background of how BALA was formed and its intentions, another political observer form the UB, Adam Mfundisi, said that the grand idea of forming a unified local government leadership was mooted in 1983 when the then Chairman of the Central District Council (CDC) Chaa Dijeng attended an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU) local government conference. “He learnt of associations of local government bodies representing the entire local system. He sold the idea to other chairpersons of councils and the idea was accepted heralding the birth of BALA in 1983 in which Dijeng became the president. It has grown through leaps and bounds through the collaborative and cooperative efforts of all councils throughout the country. The election of the BALA leadership has always been open to all local councillors across the political divide. Mfundisi added: “Nonetheless, the dominant political party, the BDP, before the 2024 local government elections, has always dominated the BALA leadership. My research has confirmed that the presidency and deputy presidency, from 1983 to 2024, have always been monopolised by the BDP councillors. Nevertheless, opposition councillors had been either elected or nominated to the BALA leadership. Most have dominated the position of additional membership showing a somewhat inclusivity in local government leadership. We can attest that opposition parties have always complained about the dominance of the BDP in top leadership of BALA agitating for a more inclusive organisation. Asked about the UDC sweeping all positions that were on offer, Mfundisi opined: “The apparent sweeping of all positions of BALA by the UDC in the 'New Botswana' is neither desirable nor acceptable. Opposition parties, before the dawn of a new Republic, have complained about the dominance of the BDP in BALA leadership. They have called for an inclusive, non-partisan and collaborative BALA for effective realisation of its vision, mission, strategy, goals and objectives as set by the founders of the organization in 1983. This culture of winner takes all, and loser loses all, undermines collective leadership in BW and more so in local government administration. UDC leadership at both local and central government must talk the talk and walk the walk. Throughout the UDC Manifesto, government proposals, pledges, articulations, there have been ideals of a merit based and inclusive government. Words are a necessary but not a sufficient condition for democratic ideals, values and principles anchored on the new BW. Words must be followed by genuine actions and decisions to buttress the statements made by the government and its leadership. Partisanship and polarizing behaviour of politicians in BW betray people's trust and confidence in the New Botswana.” The celebratory mood within the ruling political elite, Mfundisi noted, should pause and reality to dawn in.
“No political party drew 50% or above at the 2024 polls reflecting Botswana’s voters' determination for a collaborative, cooperative, inclusive, and non-partisan polity in Botswana. Political parties without exceptions should work together for the betterment of the citizens of BW. If local government bodies are not united, the central government will undermine their autonomy, independence and freedom to pursue local interests. The culture of impunity in electing leadership should end and the ideals of a new BW prevail,” said Mfundisi.
He added: “Parochial self-interests coupled with self-entitlement must stop for sustainable development to take place. Cross-fertilization of ideas, views, opinions and perspectives contribute to local democratic consolidation. UDC BALA leadership should accommodate opposition members in its fold to promote good governance. Political commitment and ownership are driven by an inclusive structure that draws from all sectors of the political divide. Any organisation that is not inclusive in its structures lacks legitimacy. It will drive partisan interests at the expense of the collective. Collective leadership matters for effective organisation.”
