Also known as: BCP
Botswana Congress Party — main opposition party holding internal elections in 2026, positioning for 2029 general elections.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Weekend Post
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is preparing to formally engage the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, expressing growing concern about the underperformance of parliamentary committees. …
BCP raises alarm over dysfunctional Parliamentary Committees to SpeakerThe Botswana Gazette
… As factional tensions mount ahead of congress SESUPO RANTSIMAKO The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is considering abolishing lobby lists ahead of its elective congress scheduled for the July holidays. …
BCP Moves to Scrap Lobby ListsOpposition Leader Dumelang Saleshando and Speaker Dithapelo Keorapetse have clashed over a proposed Bill to scrap constituency allowances for the President, Speaker, and Specially Elected MPs.
17 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette →
Opposition Leader Dumelang Saleshando and Speaker Dithapelo Keorapetse have clashed over a proposed Bill to scrap constituency allowances for the President, Speaker, and Specially Elected MPs.
17 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette →
Dr. Unity Dow, a former High Court judge and human rights advocate, was elected Vice President of the Botswana Congress Party at its elective congress in Mogoditshane during the President's Holidays in 2026, defeating Taolo Lucas by 100 votes (942 to 842). The close result and factional divisions within the party underscore ongoing tensions between competing leadership camps.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Congress Party has passed the hurdle of holding internal elections, described as a rite of passage for the party. The article indicates early signs are positive, though it is too early to assess whether things will ultimately work out well for the BCP.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Dumelang Saleshando, president of the Botswana Congress Party, has asserted his readiness and capability to lead the party into the 2029 General Election, putting to rest doubts about his health.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
The BCP internal election was contested by two campaign groups, with Dow defeating Lucas for vice presidency (942 to 842 votes) and Kekgonegile retaining secretary general (891 to 877 votes). Although Dow won the vice presidency, candidates aligned with Taolo's team won the majority of positions, with members voting based on individual candidates rather than along strict team lines.
27 July 2026 · Mmegi →
The Botswana Congress Party has elected a new central committee ahead of the 2029 General Elections, with Dumelang Saleshando retaining the presidency and Dr Unity Dow as his deputy.
26 July 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
The Botswana Congress Party faces its most critical elective congress yet, with a showdown between continuity and renewal threatening to test party unity as it plans for 2029.
22 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
BCP president Dumelang Saleshando opened the party's elective congress, emphasising that it occurs amid significant erosion of purchasing power and calls for practical solutions to socio-economic challenges including rising cost of living, unemployment, and declining household incomes. The congress drew regional political delegates and opposition leaders from across Southern Africa.
20 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's main opposition party, the BCP, is holding a conference in Mogoditshane to elect new national leadership amid unprecedented internal divisions. The party's traditionally calm electoral culture has eroded, with rival campaign teams and public attacks escalating despite senior leaders' appeals for issue-based campaigns.
17 July 2026 · Mmegi →
The main opposition party's conference in Mogoditshane will elect new national leadership amid deep internal divisions and open factional contests. The party has abandoned its tradition of calm internal elections, with rival camps publicly campaigning and intensifying rhetoric as candidates compete for positions including vice president.
17 July 2026 · Mmegi →
The Botswana Congress Party will hold an elective congress over the long weekend (July 18–21) at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School to elect office bearers for six positions. Party leader Dumelang Saleshando's seat will not be challenged, but contested races include the vice presidency race between Dr Unity Dow and incumbent Taolo Lucas, and the chairperson position with three candidates.
16 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
A P662 million education technology tender that was previously cancelled due to procurement irregularities has re-emerged as a direct award, raising concerns over procurement transparency and government spending priorities. The BCP has threatened action.
15 July 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
The Botswana Congress Party has not yet decided whether to engage an independent electoral body to oversee its leadership elections, scheduled for Mogoditshane. The party's electoral board will present its plan for conducting the elections when the Central Committee meets on Sunday, amid growing tensions over what is expected to be a fiercely contested leadership race.
13 July 2026 · Mmegi →
Veteran BCP MP Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang is moving away from constituency-focused politics toward national campaign coordination ahead of the 2029 elections, while the party pursues a "Going South" campaign to expand into southern regions where it has struggled. This shift has raised speculation that Emmanuel Maite may emerge as a successor in Tswapong South.
29 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
In a by-election, the UDC candidate won 335 votes (37.6%) in Tati Siding, defeating the BDP's 299 votes (33.5%) and increasing the coalition's winning margin from one vote in the 2024 general election to 36 votes. The UDC gained 14 additional votes compared with the general election, demonstrating stronger voter confidence.
23 June 2026 · Mmegi →
UDC candidate Keitumetse Tlhalerwa won the Tatisiding North Ward by-election on June 20 with 335 votes, increasing the party's margin from the 2024 general election when UDC won by one vote. The by-election followed the death of UDC Councillor Parkie Pius.
21 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Nkawana, a 70-year-old Botswana Congress Party legislator now in his second term, spent over 34 years in public service before entering politics. He ran unsuccessfully for Parliament in Gaborone South (2009) and Selebi-Phikwe East (2014) before winning seats in 2019 and 2024, and believes the Selebi-Phikwe constituency is a BCP stronghold.
10 June 2026 · Mmegi →
BCP vice president Taolo Lucas told a rally in Selebi-Phikwe East that voting for the UDC had been a mistake, arguing the coalition failed to meet expectations and is struggling to govern effectively, and that the BCP's departure from the coalition has been validated by subsequent developments.
2 June 2026 · Mmegi →
The Tati Siding North ward proved highly competitive in the 2024 General Election, with the UDC winning by just one vote (321) over the BDP (320), followed by the BCP (283) and BRP (211), indicating no clear favourite for the upcoming by-election.
2 June 2026 · Mmegi →
The Botswana Congress Party dismissed growing political activity in Selebi Phikwe East, with Member of Parliament Kgoberego Nkawana assuring supporters at a rally that he remains committed to the BCP despite intensified campaigns by the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change.
2 June 2026 · Mmegi →
Political activity from the UDC and BCP in Selebi-Phikwe East signals the early stages of a fiercely contested 2029 election race, with tensions already escalating three years before the general election.
2 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Congress Party will hold Executive Leadership elections in 51 days to prepare for the 2029 general elections, with the incoming leadership expected to contrast sharply with the current UDC government.
29 May 2026 · Mmegi →
The Botswana Congress Party has dismissed the government's forensic audit as structurally flawed and theatrically political, arguing it reveals little that is new and provides no credible roadmap for institutional reform. If the report remains secret, the BCP plans to revive its proposal for a fully independent Presidential Commission of Inquiry when Parliament reconvenes in July.
20 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Congress Party has raised concerns over P57 million paid to Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited for a national forensic audit, questioning the decision after the audit's scope reportedly dropped from 92 entities to 30 with no clear explanation of value for money.
16 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
The Botswana Congress Party, through Saleshando, has demanded the release of an audit report, arguing that Batswana deserve full transparency since taxpayers funded the audit.
13 May 2026 · Mmegi →
Taolo Lucas, Botswana Congress Party vice presidential candidate, has reportedly won the support of at least six Members of Parliament in his campaign against Unity Dow, Member of Parliament for Kgatleng West. The Lucas campaign is targeting additional influential party figures as it seeks to strengthen its position ahead of the elective congress.
5 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Congress Party is formally engaging the Speaker of the National Assembly over the underperformance of parliamentary committees, noting that several committees did not meet regularly during the past financial year, which the party says has hampered Parliament's constitutional role in scrutinizing government activities and holding the Executive accountable.
5 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
At the Gaborone Regional Conference, party insiders questioned whether some delegates were properly elected according to party procedures, prompting concerns about the credibility of the process and deepening divisions within the BCP.
27 April 2026 · Mmegi →
The Botswana Congress Party is considering abolishing lobby lists ahead of its elective congress scheduled for July, according to party Secretary General Goretetse Kekgonegile.
25 April 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →