– Party veterans see Masisi as vital to reviving the BDP
– They say his experience and profile could unify the party
– Claim Mpho Balopi’s weaknesses raise worries for 2029
– Masisi may be asked but likely to decline, favors statesman role
– If he refuses, two ex-ministers and Letsholo are next picks
Behind the scenes of Botswana’s political arena, a quiet yet determined movement is taking shape within the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Senior figures and venerable party veterans are coalescing in an effort to persuade former President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi to reconsider his political retreat and contest the party presidency at the upcoming elective congress slated for 2027.
This initiative unfolds against the backdrop of palpable unease following the BDP’s unprecedented loss in the 2024 general elections, a dramatic event that ended the party’s unbroken six-decade grip on power. Masisi, who steered the party through that fateful election, made the telling decision not to seek re-election as party president during the 2025 congress in Maun. This move was widely interpreted as a tacit acknowledgment of the simmering discontent and disillusionment roiling within the party ranks.
In Masisi’s stead, former Secretary General and Cabinet Minister Mpho Balopi emerged victorious in the contest for party leadership, besting former chairman Slumber Tsogwane and Ame Makoba. His ascension was initially heralded as a generational shift and a potential inflection point for renewal. Yet, scarcely a year into his tenure, fissures have begun to surface.
Voices from within the party’s elder statesmen and rank-and-file alike express growing concern that under Balopi’s stewardship, the BDP struggles to regain its electoral footing. Internal dialogues have spotlighted disappointing by-election results and grassroots feedback as clear signals that the party remains fragile and far from electoral recovery. Proponents of Balopi urge patience, insisting it is premature to render judgment, but detractors warn that the warning signs are unmistakable.
Beyond electoral woes, the specter of looming legal entanglements surrounding the current party president has cast a shadow over the party’s stability. Insiders fear that potential court proceedings could erupt at a critical juncture, destabilizing efforts to rebuild momentum ahead of the 2029 general elections.
“We cannot afford a situation where our leader is dragged in and out of court while the party is trying to rebuild and campaign,” confided one senior member. “We must plan ahead. The idea is to have an alternative leadership option that is clean and credible.”
It is within this climate of uncertainty that Masisi’s name has resurfaced as a beacon of hope. Despite the weight of the 2024 defeat, several party elders maintain that Masisi remains uniquely poised, by virtue of his stature, experience, and national profile, to knit the party back together and restore public confidence.
“Among the democrats, Masisi still commands respect,” revealed a source close to the deliberations. “He understands the machinery of both government and the party, and he can go toe-to-toe with other national leaders.”
Plans are reportedly underway to approach Masisi formally upon his return from abroad. Party insiders emphasize that the outreach will be an earnest appeal rather than coercion, inviting him to consider guiding the party through what many regard as its most critical phase of reconstruction.
Yet, tempered expectations prevail. Those close to Masisi suggest he has deliberately distanced himself from daily party politics since leaving office, seemingly content to adopt the mantle of a statesman. The prevailing sentiment is that he may well decline, preferring to shape national discourse from outside the fray of active party leadership.
Should Masisi rebuff the overture, attention is already pivoting to alternative contenders. Two former Ministers are among those floated, viewed by some as a technocrat with solid economic credentials. Another figure gaining traction is Thapelo Letsholo, a former Member of Parliament during Masisi’s administration, noted for his relative youth and articulate presence.
Meanwhile, BDP Secretary General Kentse Rammidi had not responded to inquiries by the time of publication.
When contacted, BDP President Mpho Balopi stated he was unaware of any approach to Masisi and underscored the party’s democratic nature, affirming that any member is free to contest leadership positions as demonstrated in last year’s congress. “I am not aware of that. The BDP is a democratic party, and anyone is free to contest any position in the party, just like at last year’s congress, where many candidates vied for leadership positions,” Balopi said.
As the BDP wrestles with its identity and searches for a path forward, the campaign to enlist Masisi underscores the depth of anxiety within its ranks and the urgency with which its members seek to reclaim political relevance ahead of the 2029 elections.