… Over multiple elections, he often narrowly lost tough battles against the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) but steadily built the BCP’s grassroots presence. …
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is currently considering its options following a complaint filed against former President Mokgweetsi Masisi by Moshupa Kgosi Oscar Mosielele. …
… The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) garnered 299 votes, equivalent to 33.5%, whilst independent candidates collectively failed to surpass the 70-vote mark. …
… During the 2024 general elections, UDC won narrowly, garnering 321 votes, just one vote more than the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which obtained 320. …
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) are reportedly facing challenges in rallying support from some members who lost in their respective primary elections.According to insiders, they believe the alleged lack of unity within the two majo …
… It will also reflect the country’s historic democratic transition of power from the Botswana Democratic Party to the Umbrella for Democratic Change. …
… The CPU was launched amid considerable public attention in December 2023 by former Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Kagiso Mmusi under the previous Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) administration. …
… In the previous election, the UDC narrowly secured victory with 321 votes.Close on its heels, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) garnered 320 votes, while the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) trailed slightly behind with 283 votes. …
Rev. Dr. Rupert Hambira, former BDP parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central, has lodged a formal complaint to Bakgatla Ba Ga Mmanaana Kgosi Oscar Mosielele regarding the loss of his one-hectare piece of land adjacent to Hika La Ngwanyana dam, alleging it was taken under pretext of developments that have not materialized and that he was dissatisfied with the process and handling of his concerns.
Why it matters
The dispute over Hika La Ngwanyana land allocation raises accountability questions about land administration and property rights affecting citizens' livelihoods.
Rev. Dr. Rupert Hambira, former BDP parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central, has lodged a formal complaint to Bakgatla Ba Ga Mmanaana Kgosi Oscar Mosielele regarding the loss of his one-hectare piece of land adjacent to Hika La Ngwanyana dam, alleging it was taken under pretext of developments that have not materialized and that he was dissatisfied with the process and handling of his concerns.
BDP President Mpho Balopi has rescinded an earlier decision to restore Samson Guma Moyo's membership, asserting in a June 30 letter that Moyo automatically forfeited membership by joining another political party and that only the Central Committee can consider readmission applications under the party constitution.
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.
In the Tati by-election, the UDC won with 335 votes while the BDP came second with 299 votes. BDP Secretary General Kentse Rammidi said the party sees the result as a sign of gradual revival and rejected claims that the BDP has become politically irrelevant.
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.
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.
The UDC and BDP face challenges rallying members who lost primary elections in Tati North, where historically narrow electoral margins mean that alleged internal divisions could significantly affect the outcome.
Wame Bodutu, an Afrocentric visual artist from Molepolole, has pursued art since primary school in 2008 and graduated from the University of Botswana with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2024. After mentorship from artists Bezuba Kaunda and Rodney Keitemoge, she has moved into mural painting and sold artworks, inspiring other women to pursue creative careers.
The Botswana Police Service has rejected claims that the City Police Unit (CPU), launched in December 2023, has been suspended, though sources say the government has quietly scaled back the initiative since the UDC took office in 2024, citing resource shortages and a reported shift toward the Safer City Project.
Politician Tshere was re-elected with 73% of the vote and a 58-percentage-point margin of victory, the highest vote share and margin attained by a non-BDP candidate in Botswana's electoral history. The UDC recorded a substantial 21-percentage-point increase in its vote share compared to the 2019 election.
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.
Buzz within Botswana Democratic Party circles suggests former MPs Dorcas Makgato and Christian Ntuba Greef are effectively swapping their political bases.
A parliamentary member and Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship says his conviction that politics must serve to improve people's lives—especially young people, entrepreneurs, and ordinary communities—was shaped by university experience and civil society work. His background in business consulting has reinforced his belief that government should make it easier for citizens to start and grow businesses.
Within the BDP, Seretse has fought numerous political battles, distinguished by her refusal to be intimidated by pressure from within party structures or the public. The article notes that unlike many politicians who soften their voices, Seretse has consistently chosen blunt honesty over silence.
On 1 April 1998, Festus Mogae succeeded Sir Ketumile Masire as president of Botswana, entering the role as a respected technocrat but uncertain politician surrounded by rivals and factional intrigue.
Kgafela, who had announced a May 2030 return date in May 2024, will miss the May 21 deadline he had set. In a December 2024 virtual address to Bakgatla at Mochudi Kgotla, he stated he was now able to visit Botswana before his previously announced date, following the downfall of the Botswana Democratic Party.
Speakers at Seakgosing's funeral paid tribute to his grounded character and dedication to serving people with humility despite his achievements as a diplomat, government official, and Member of Parliament for Thamaga.
Leaders from across Botswana's political divide set aside rivalry to honour former president Mogae at his State funeral. Former cabinet minister Tebelelo Seretse publicly thanked President Duma Boko for the dignified send-off, describing it as a meaningful gesture for the BDP despite ongoing political differences.
Festus Gontebanye Mogae, who served as Botswana's president for two terms starting in 1998, has died at age 86. The article traces his political ascent from Finance Minister through a 1992 land inquiry report that forced Vice President Peter Mmusi's resignation, creating the vacancy that elevated Mogae to the vice presidency under Sir Ketumile Masire.
The opposition BDP claims the national forensic audit risks being undermined by premature public judgment on social media before final findings are released, warning it may not produce conclusive results.
Botswana Democratic Party President Mpho Balopi praised President Advocate Duma Boko's tribute to the late former President Festus Mogae, describing Mogae as a great democrat, intellectual and nation builder who strengthened Botswana through discipline, humility and decency.
An opinion piece examines Festus Mogae's role in Botswana politics from the perspective of early 1990s opposition figures who viewed him as representing an establishment they considered cautious and elitist, amid political tensions over inequality, land allocation, and governance issues including the National Development Bank crisis.
Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi has reflected on external and internal party forces that contributed to the BDP's loss of government control in the 2024 general elections, marking the party's first defeat in nearly six decades.