BPF factions reconcile

• Ookeditse, Galebotswe embrace each other
• Congress re-run scheduled for Serowe in December
• New Interim Committee to lead the party temporarily
• BPF joins Sefophe ward by-election race

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Opposition Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) leaders have expressed optimism that their elective congress scheduled for 4th-5th December 2026 in Serowe will bring back stability into the party following a successful reconciliation process between Lawrence Ookeditse and Gaoalathe Galebotswe camps.

The party hasn’t known peace since the controversial elective congress held in Serowe in November 2025 that resulted in the two centres of power, one led by assistant Minister of Health Ookeditse and another by former Commander of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Lieutenant General (Rtd) Galebotswe.

In an interview this week, BPF Deputy Secretary General- Interim Committee Modiri Jojo Lucas stated that the lengthy process of reconciliation ultimately paved the way for the long-planned Mahalapye General Meeting that took place on Saturday, which saw members from different parts of Botswana coming together to deliberate on the state of the party and its future.

Lucas said the attendance and participation demonstrated that there remains a strong desire among members to see the BPF united, stable and focused on its political objectives.

At the meeting, he noted that Members had an opportunity to advise the Interim Committee on what needed to be done to move the party forward. “Importantly, members endorsed the current Interim Committee and agreed that the party should proceed towards an elective congress scheduled for 4–5 December 2026,” he said.

The purpose is to give the BPF a new lease of life through the election of new leadership and the restoration of a strong democratic foundation,” he said.

He stressed that the elective congress is still going ahead on the proposed dates of 4–5 December 2026, and it is their intention that the process should be conducted with the involvement of the independent bodies, as agreed.

“As the Interim Committee, we have a responsibility to ensure that the elections are conducted in a manner that is free, fair, transparent, credible and above reproach. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past,” said Lucas.

According to Lucas, the credibility of the congress is extremely important, adding that whoever emerges victorious from that congress must do so through a process that is accepted by the membership and that leaves no reasonable doubt about the integrity of the election.

Political observers indicate that for warring camps to finally find each other brings some fresh start for the party and the congress will test its strength ahead of the 2029 general election.

Sefophe by-election

Meanwhile, having left Mahalapye with spirit of unity, Lucas said the party has now launched campaign in Sefophe unveiling Loeto Porati as its candidate. “Our immediate test will be the Sefophe by-election. We intend to contest that election as one solid organisation, bringing together our resources, our intellectual capacity, our membership, our campaign experience and our organisational strength,” he averred.

In the past, he explained that divisions within the party cost BPF opportunities and weakened its ability to translate its support into political results. “We cannot continue making the same mistakes,” he said, adding that BPF must now operate as one political organisation with one strategic direction.

He indicated that the party recognizes that many Batswana are facing difficult economic circumstances. “Unemployment, the rising cost of living and inflation continue to place pressure on ordinary households and businesses. These are real issues that any serious political organisation must address,” said Lucas.