Also known as: BDP
Botswana's ruling party until 2024; appears in coverage of recent elections, internal party discipline, and political reconciliation efforts.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Weekend Post
Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi opened up this week about the forces, both outside and within his party, that led to his stunning defeat in the 2024 general elections, which saw the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) lose control of the government for the first time in nearly six …
Masisi reflects on losing powerSalakae, a senior BNF Member of Parliament and longstanding party activist since his youth, has remained loyal to the party through its turbulent periods, including the historical split with the Botswana Congress Party and recent internal turmoil.
21 August 2026 · Mmegi →
Salakae, a senior BNF Member of Parliament and longstanding party activist since his youth, has remained loyal to the party through its turbulent periods, including the historical split with the Botswana Congress Party and recent internal turmoil.
21 August 2026 · Mmegi →
Judge Mokwadi Gabanagae granted an order on July 24 allowing four BDP MPs to submit their election expense returns after the 90-day statutory deadline, requiring submission within 30 days of the order or the relief lapses.
3 August 2026 · Mmegi →
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 government has rejected calls for an independent audit of the 2019 General Elections, despite persistent accusations from the Umbrella for Democratic Change that the polls were manipulated. Minister Moeti Mohwasa told Parliament the administration will focus on economic transformation and electoral reforms rather than revisiting past election controversies.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
BCP leader Saleshando told party members that Botswana's political landscape has fundamentally changed, with voters now willing to use the ballot for political change, and urged the BCP to position itself as a credible alternative capable of national leadership rather than remain in opposition politics.
27 July 2026 · Mmegi →
Dow has been elected BCP vice president, marking a significant milestone for women's representation in Botswana's political leadership. She becomes the third woman to hold a vice presidential position in a political party, following Kathleen Letshabo and Same Bathobakae of the BNF.
24 July 2026 · Mmegi →
Delegates of the Botswana Congress Party will vote at a conference this weekend to choose between Lucas and Dow for one of the party's most important leadership positions. The outcome is expected to shape the BCP's next leadership and its preparations for the 2029 General Election.
17 July 2026 · Mmegi →
Delegates at a BCP conference this weekend will vote to determine which of two influential politicians—Lucas or Dow—wins a key party leadership position. The outcome is expected to shape the BCP's next leadership and preparations for the 2029 General Election; former Cabinet Minister Dow joined the party in 2023 after leaving the BDP and won a parliamentary seat under the BCP ticket.
17 July 2026 · Mmegi →
Kedikilwe recounts how constituents convinced him to stand as their ward candidate in the 2009 General Election at Palamaokuwe, initially resisting the offer because he wished to focus on his businesses, but agreeing after party elders and the community promised to conduct house-to-house campaigns and secure victory.
16 July 2026 · Mmegi →
The Botswana Democratic Party has revoked the reinstatement of former member Samson Guma Moyo, prompting fresh scrutiny over the consistency of the party's reconciliation programme under president Mpho Balopi.
9 July 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
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.
7 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
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.
6 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
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 →
The Botswana Democratic Party is weighing its options following a complaint filed against former President Mokgweetsi Masisi by Moshupa Kgosi Oscar Mosielele.
29 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
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.
23 June 2026 · Mmegi →
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 →
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.
15 June 2026 · Mmegi →
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.
10 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
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.
9 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
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.
3 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 →
Buzz within Botswana Democratic Party circles suggests former MPs Dorcas Makgato and Christian Ntuba Greef are effectively swapping their political bases.
2 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
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.
25 May 2026 · Mmegi →
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.
22 May 2026 · Mmegi →
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.
20 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
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.
20 May 2026 · Mmegi →
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.
20 May 2026 · Mmegi →
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.
20 May 2026 · Mmegi →
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.
18 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →