Umbrella for Democratic Change — governing political coalition in Botswana led by President Duma Boko, navigating fiscal pressures and economic reforms since 2024 elections.
… SESUPO RANTSIMAKO The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government has no immediate plans to repeal the controversial floor-crossing law, despite strongly opposing the constitutional amendment when it was introduced by…
Last October, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government postponed the implementation of its election promises, revealing that it will be introduced from the 2026–2027 financial year.In a press release, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs spokesperso …
… The proposed spending increases are part of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s election pledges, which include higher allowances for Ipelegeng workers, Village Development Committees, and tertiary students, as well as extending old-age pension benefits to citizens aged 60 …
… This stance persists despite persistent accusations from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) that the 2019 polls were manipulated in favor of the then-ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). …
Sunday Standard Cash crunch tests UDC’s human rights promise The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) entered office promising a rights-based approach to governance. …
Speaking during the Botswana National Front (BNF)’s 60th National Conference over the holidays in Jwaneng, Malema said the true test of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government's victory would be whether ordinary Batswana ultimately take control of the country's wealth …
Botswana’s bleak economic outlook is set to take center stage this weekend as two major parties within the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) hold separate high-level meetings. …
… His remarks followed speculation that Mr Ntsima had left the party and was preparing to join another political party within a coalition aligned to the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). …
The Botswana National Front has mourned councillor Akambakamba, who contested the Notwane Ward in 2009 and 2019 and served on the party's central committee under founding president Kenneth Koma, Otsweletse Moupo, and Duma Boko. Regarded as an iconic activist and political mentor to generations, she stepped down from the central committee after the UDC's 2024 election victory and government formation.
The Botswana National Front has mourned councillor Akambakamba, who contested the Notwane Ward in 2009 and 2019 and served on the party's central committee under founding president Kenneth Koma, Otsweletse Moupo, and Duma Boko. Regarded as an iconic activist and political mentor to generations, she stepped down from the central committee after the UDC's 2024 election victory and government formation.
BOFEPUSU attributes its worsening relationship with President Duma Boko to unfulfilled election promises and Government's alleged resistance to union scrutiny, according to union secretary general Robert Rabasimane.
The BDP's vetting process for primary candidates in an upcoming by-election has sparked internal discontent, with only two of five applicants approved to contest. Some party members are questioning the exclusion criteria and threatening not to support the party in the by-election, citing concerns of unfairness and favouritism in the vetting process.
The Botswana Democratic Party has cleared Same Senkanang-Ditshoto and Barulaganye Moloi to contest the party primary elections for Sefhophe Ward in Mmadinare, following a by-election triggered by the death of a UDC councillor.
A Block 7 school-and-clinic development by the Moti Group's African Hero initiative is being showcased as the first physical project under a lease-to-own model proposed to government, though the proposal had previously drawn scrutiny from the Ministry of Finance over its financial implications.
The Duma Boko School & Clinic in Block 7 will be unveiled on September 5, according to African Hero, the infrastructure initiative behind the project funded by South African businessman Zunaid Moti. The development reverses an earlier rejection by the Ministry of Finance, which flagged the proposal as financially costly and advocated for open competitive bidding.
Noah Salakae, recently a cabinet minister overseeing Transport and Infrastructure, is scheduled to appear before a magistrate court on August 28 on corruption charges following a DCEC investigation. The charges allege he received roughly 1.6 million pula in cash, a Toyota Fortuner valued at 575,000 pula, and bush-clearing services in exchange for influence over a 1.45 billion pula government contract awarded to Tau Grading and Construction for construction of the Ghanzi-New Xade road; Salakae has rejected all allegations.
Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa called on political parties to uphold commitments made at an All-Party Conference on August 3, where parties agreed to present electoral reform proposals to Parliament as a unified package. The government initiated the reform process to build a system that more accurately reflects the will of Batswana.
Salakae's departure from cabinet following corruption allegations from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime revives Botswana's history of ministerial resignations amid such controversies, joining former ministers including Ramadeluka Seretse, Peter Mmusi, Daniel Kwelagobe, and Michael Tshipinare. Salakae is scheduled to appear in court on August 28.
Leader of Opposition Dumelang Saleshando has challenged the UDC's narrative on the Electoral Amendment Bill, contending that the reform process began shortly after the 2024 general elections rather than being rushed after the All-Party Conference.
Botswana is negotiating a multi-billion Pula loan from the African Development Bank to fund a jobs programme addressing unemployment through skills development and enterprise financing, but the funds will only be released if the government can prove it can deliver results.
The UDC government has made no immediate plans to repeal the floor-crossing constitutional amendment, despite having fiercely opposed it while in opposition.
The Lands Ministry is accused of disrupting the rollout of the Bonno Housing Project, a scheme launched by Boko at Palapye last year to provide housing across 61 constituencies with a target of 61,000 houses. The accusation was raised before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee.
The UDC government has begun rolling out its newborn allowance programme, providing eligible low-income households with children under one year old a monthly payment of P300, plus arrears from the programme's start date of April 1, 2026, according to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe cautioned in Parliament that Botswana's fragile economic recovery cannot sustain the Umbrella for Democratic Change's proposed P4.1 billion annual increase in social spending, which includes higher allowances for Ipelegeng workers, Village Development Committees, and tertiary students, plus extending old-age pensions to citizens aged 60 to 64, without worsening the fiscal deficit and increasing public debt.
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.
The UDC entered office promising a rights-based approach to governance, but a deep fiscal crisis is forcing difficult trade-offs. A new report warns that the government has cut financial support to key civil society organisations at a time of worsening economic pressures, rising unemployment, and poverty.
Speaking at the BNF's 60th National Conference, Julius Malema told the Umbrella for Democratic Change government that a true revolution requires ordinary Batswana to take control of the country's wealth, and warned that if the oppressed gained nothing while the oppressors lost nothing after the transition, "there was never a revolution."
Two major parties within the Umbrella for Democratic Change are holding separate high-level meetings this weekend to address Botswana's economic situation.
BPP president Motlatsi Molapisi has confirmed that Francistown East MP Tiroeaone Ntsima remains a member in good standing, dismissing speculation that he was leaving to join another party. Molapisi also expressed concern about the party's weak organisational structures and condemned character assassination among members.
President Duma Boko has reaffirmed his government's commitment to transform Botswana's economy from public sector-led to private sector-led, citing efforts to diversify revenue away from diamonds. He cited improved national savings from P300 million in 2024 to P6.1 billion, a 5.4 per cent increase in BURS collections to P15.36 billion in the first quarter of 2026/2027, and cost containment measures yielding P2.73 billion in cumulative savings since August 2025.
The Botswana People's Party will hold its Second leadership forum this Saturday in Francistown to assess progress, strengthen internal structures and align the organisation with its strategic priorities as the country approaches the electoral cycle. The forum will review implementation of resolutions from the first forum held two months ago and strengthen leadership cohesion.
Batsalelwang has become the third town clerk at Gaborone City Council since the UDC took control following the 2024 election. The appointment occurs amid persistent tensions between elected councillors and senior management, marked by accusations of political interference and governance disputes.
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 minister suspended the Palapye District Council and all its committees after councillors removed PDC chairperson Kabo Ketshogile (UDC) and voted in David Ikanyeng (BPF) as preferred chairperson, citing governance failures and the need to restore stability.
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.
The Botswana Patriotic Front has taken control of the Palapye District Council chairmanship after David Ikanyeng was elected following a successful motion of no confidence against UDC councillor Kabo Ketshogile.