BDP shakes BPF

Balopi hints at BDP & BPF reunion
BPF NEC propose early BDP talks. BPF Congress thrown into dilemma
BDP unity after Maun congress admirable – Analyst

BAKANG TIRO

Emerging from Maun engulfed in euphoria, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has divided opinion within the opposition Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), with some in the leadership of the latter proposing that they rebuild relations with Tsholetsa House.

Information reaching this publication is that some influential BPF politburo are pushing for BDP alliance while the other faction still believes they have unfinished business with the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

Anticipation was that BPF would go to the 2024 general election as member of the UDC but BPF president Mephato Reatile months just before the election announced withdrawal from the coalition. His decision raffled feathers in the party leaving some members of the party with no choice but to contest election under the UDC through the direct membership dispensation extended to them.

One of the notable BPF members who joined forces with UDC and succeeded at the election is MP for Tswapong North Prince Maele, a former BDP member. He also is serving as the Minister of Higher Education in the UDC government following his appointment by President Advocate Duma Boko.

Insiders intimate that BPF members of the central committee that root for BDP, BPF bromance are those who supported the newly elected BDP president Mpho Balopi and his associates ahead of BDP congress. It is said the former BPF Patron Kgosi Ian Khama was also influential in backing Balopi’s campaign, a development that has motivated some BPF leaders to pursue BDP led by Balopi, a close ally of Khama.

Sources close to the developments opine that the BDP is increasingly becoming an interesting potential partner to BPF than UDC. “The BPF elective congress will be handling a hot potato to decide between BDP and UDC alliances. A powerful faction in the central committee prefers BDP more so that some its former MPs especially from Gammangwato are willing to return actively to BDP and it can boost BPF dominance in central,” a source said.

On Friday, BPF Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Neo Oagile said the party congress will decide on its pending working model with the UDC and vehemently opposed to the idea that BPF consider BDP too.

Oagile said it is not true that BPF is interested on BDP but could not be drawn into discussing if the central committee or party general membership are engaged in a dialoque for potential BDP move.

Meanwhile, Oagile said BPF just like other political parties is preparing for its main elective and auxiliary structures elective congresses.

Oagile said the BPF National Conference will be at Molepolole on the 19^th July 2025, Women’s League and Youth League elective congresses will be on the 20^th and 21^st July 2025 still at Molepolole and the elective congress will be on the 1^st November 2025 at Serowe, the BPF’s strategic political backyard.

In a televised interview on Thursday, Balopi said BDP is remain stronger given by the number of 254 000 voters and the 30% popular vote and this indicates that BDP is a strong political giant without any doubt.

He said BDP defeat in 2024 election was due to number of factors that include a perception by voters that BDP was beginning to take the voters for granted after its 58 years dominance in the government.

According to Balopi, inner party democracy was also declining with members voice being suppressed contrary to BDP democratic principles.

“We are building an inclusive party and the new central committee is going to unite the party. We lost members to the BPF and Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). The 69 000 voters who voted BPF are BDP members and we are going to talk to them. We are talking to different former BDP members to come back home,” said Balopi.

Appealing

Political commentator, Kitso Morekisi said BPF is BDP in the sense that it was formed by influential former BDP members who felt disparaged by the previous BDP leadership hence parties have a lot in common.

He said the level of unity and political stability that has been demonstrated by the BDP after its high stakes congress in Maun has positioned BDP as an attractive potential partner for any political party.

According to Morekisi, BDP has elected new central committee led by the political strategist Balopi and that will come in handy in making BDP a force to reckon with more so that he (Balopi) is close to Khama.

“BDP would shape the political landscape as much as it remains intact as it emerged from the congress. The party hasn’t lost as much in terms of members joining other parties either the ruling UDC or those in the opposition. So, BDP still remains a game changer depending on which future alliance it strikes,” he said.