- Ntuane declares his unavailability for BDP elective roles
- Expresses dedication to election observation across Africa
- Resigned from BDP CC in 2019 to focus on election observation
- BDP members had urged Ntuane to vie for party presidency
Botsalo Ntuane, the erstwhile Secretary General of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and a seasoned legislator with two terms under his belt, has firmly rebuffed attempts to entice him back into the political arena to contend for the party’s leadership following a disastrous electoral defeat in October.
After 12 consecutive triumphs in elections, the BDP’s fortunes finally faltered, resulting in an unforeseen ousting from power. The party managed to secure a mere four seats, while the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) emerged victorious with a commanding 36 seats. Meanwhile, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) captured 15 seats, and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) secured five.
In the aftermath of this electoral debacle, loyalists within the party have been vociferously demanding the resignation of the party president and the entire Central Committee, alongside advocating for a Special Congress. The BDP is slated to convene for its Ordinary Congress in 2025.
Numerous individuals have been proposed as potential leaders of the party, with Ntuane, once the party’s shining star, being a prominent figure in these deliberations. However, Ntuane remains resolute in his decision to abstain from returning to the party’s helm or engaging in active politics.
“To address the circulating speculation and lobby lists, I wish to clearly state that I am unavailable for BDP elective positions,” Ntuane asserted in a statement released on Thursday.
“For context, my last engagement in party activities was at the National Retreat in January 2019 in Palapye. Subsequently, in February 2019, I resigned from the Central Committee to devote myself to election observation assignments.”
Ntuane elaborated that his regular deployment on election observation missions across the continent rendered it impractical to fulfill such responsibilities while remaining actively involved in party politics.
“Six years later, my circumstances remain unchanged. Due to my commitment to election observation, commentary, and analysis, I remain unavailable for party political activism.”
LOSS OF FAITH IN THE BDP
Insiders reveal that Ntuane harbors little confidence in the party’s prospects of reclaiming power, perceiving that, akin to many liberation movements in Africa, it may take decades for the party to regain its stature in the national political landscape.
In 2015, Ntuane re-entered the party’s politburo after a successful campaign centered on reforming both the party and the country’s electoral framework. Since the 2014 general elections, Ntuane has persistently warned of the real possibility of the party losing power, asserting that political reforms were imperative to reverse this trend.
In the renowned BDP Reform Agenda Conversations, Ntuane proposed various measures, including the introduction of party funding and a constitutional review to adopt proportional representation. Although Ntuane’s reforms received endorsement at the Congress in Mmadinare, they were subsequently rejected by the party’s Central Committee.
