Botswana Democratic Party

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Botswana Democratic Party
AbbreviationBDP
Chairman Slumber Tsogwane
President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi
Vice President of Botswana Slumber Tsogwane
Speaker of the National Assembly Phandu Skelemani
Leader of the House Slumber Tsogwane
Founder Seretse Khama
FoundedNovember 1961
HeadquartersTsholetsa House, Gaborone
Ideology Paternalistic conservatism [1]
Political position Centre [2] to centre-right [3] [4] [5] [6]
International affiliation Socialist International (consultative) [7]
Africa affiliation FLMSA
Colours  Red
  Black
  White
SloganTsholetsa Domkrag
National Assembly
38 / 65
Pan African Parliament
5 / 5
Party flag
Flag of the Botswana Democratic Party.svg
Website
bdp.org.bw

The Botswana Democratic Party (abbr. BDP) is the governing party in Botswana. Its chairman is the Vice-President of Botswana, Slumber Tsogwane, and its symbol is a lift jack. The party has ruled Botswana continuously since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. [8] The BDP is sometimes classified as a paternalistic conservative party and is also a consultative member of the Socialist International since 2014, which is a group including many worldwide social-democratic parties.

Contents

The BDP was primarily shaped by two of its founders, Sir Seretse Khama and Quett Ketumile Masire. Traditional Setswana communities make up the party's base, which has led the BDP to remain a conservative movement.

In the 2019 Parliamentary elections, the BDP took 38 seats, giving it continued control of the chamber.

History

In November 1961, Seretse Khama and other delegates to the African Advisory Council founded the party in Lobatse. Within the next few months Masire and Khama drafted a party constitution, and then held the party's first public meeting in Gaborone on 28 February 1962. [9] Following the meeting the BDP was organized in the northern sections of the country by Seretse Khama, Amos Dambe, Archelaus Tsoebebe and James G. Haskins. The southern and western regions were primarily organized by the party secretary, Quett Masire. Masire also began publishing the party newspaper, Therisanyo/Consultation, in 1963, building on his past journalistic experiences. As a result of effective propaganda and organizing across the entire country, the BDP won a landslide in the 1965 election, taking 28 out of 31 seats. During the run-up to independence in 1966, Khama and Masire formed a formidable leadership team. Not only did they agree on major policy decisions, but they also identified and recruited talent into the party and government. [10]

With Seretse Khama as President and Quett Masire as vice-president, Botswana prospered. Rapid economic growth and a peaceful, democratic society were the result.

For the next three decades, the BDP dominated the National Assembly, facing at most nine opposition MPs. Khama died in 1980, and was succeeded by his vice president, Quett Masire. His last term saw the BDP's dominance challenged for the first time, with opposition candidates winning 17 out of 44 seats.

Festus Mogae served as the country's president between 1998 and 2008. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 20 March 2008 for his "exemplary leadership" in making Botswana a "model" of democracy and good governance. [11] Mogae won the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. [12] [13]

Prior to the introduction of primary elections in 1998, the BDP leadership maintained a tight control over candidate selection and party financing. Since then, the primary system (known as "buleladitswe") combined with ongoing factional strife, has led to a loss of overall cohesion and increased competition for positions. Some, such as party founder Quett Masire, deplored this new development and believed that it had corrupted the party. [14] Others have maintained that it modernized the party and brought in new political voices that could broaden its appeal in urban constituencies.

Ian Khama, the son of former president Sir Seretse Khama, joined the party ahead of the 1999 general elections. On 1 April 2008, Ian Khama ascended to the presidency as the fourth President of the Republic of Botswana, and relinquished his chairmanship of the Botswana Democratic Party. The vacant post was then undertaken by party stalwart and veteran Daniel Kwelagobe. Despite this development, Ian Khama moved to sideline Kwelagobe and other "Baratha-Phathi" factionalists in the government. In his inauguration address, Ian Khama outlined the National Vision 2016. [15]

The party was ridden by factions in the 2000s, and observers predicted that unless discipline was instilled, the party would split. [16] [17] One faction (calling itself Barata-Phathi) was led by Ponatshego Kedikilwe and former Secretary General Daniel Kwelagobe, while the dominant faction (calling itself The A Team) was led by cabinet ministers Jacob Nkate and the late Mompati Merafhe. The A Team was formerly led by President Festus Mogae and Ian Khama (his vice president). Both of them have since pulled out from leading factions, and Khama eventually left the party in 2018, citing unfair treatment by his successor.

In May 2010, the BDP split, with the Botswana Movement for Democracy formed, led by Botsalo Ntuane and the other Parliament ministers who opposed President Khama's political decisions. [18]

The 2014 election resulted in the BDP taking 37 parliamentary seats, [19] a decreased margin from the previous election in 2009, but still a majority in the 63-seat chamber and 20 seats more than the next largest party. As a result, President Khama retained his position as president for a second five-year term. [20]

The current chairman of the Botswana Democratic Party is Slumber Tsogwane.

On November 1, 2019, Duma Boko, who led Botswana's coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change in the 2019 Botswana general election, charges there were "massive electoral discrepancies" and wants to challenge the election in court. Official results show the BDP winning 38 of 57 constituencies. [21]

Electoral history

National Assembly elections

ElectionParty leaderVotes %Seats+/–PositionResult
1965 Seretse Khama 113,16780.4%
28 / 35
Increase2.svg 28Increase2.svg 1stSupermajority government
1969 52,21868.3%
24 / 35
Decrease2.svg 4Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
1974 49,04776.6%
27 / 36
Increase2.svg 3Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
1979 101,09875.2%
29 / 36
Increase2.svg 2Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
1984 Quett Masire 154,86368.0%
29 / 38
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
1989 162,27764.8%
31 / 38
Increase2.svg 2Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
1994 154,70554.6%
27 / 44
Decrease2.svg 4Steady2.svg 1stMajority government
1999 Festus Mogae 192,59857.1%
33 / 44
Increase2.svg 6Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
2004 213,30851.7%
44 / 63
Increase2.svg 11Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
2009 Ian Khama 290,09953.3%
45 / 63
Increase2.svg 1Steady2.svg 1stSupermajority government
2014 320,65746.5%
37 / 63
Decrease2.svg 8Steady2.svg 1stMajority government
2019 Mokgweetsi Masisi 405,71952.8%
38 / 65
Increase2.svg 1Steady2.svg 1stMajority government

Notable members

Related Research Articles

The Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country's major ethnic group. Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Botswana</span> Political system of Botswana

Botswana is a parliamentary republic in which the President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government. The nation's politics are based heavily on British parliamentary politics and on traditional Batswana chiefdom. The legislature is made up of the unicameral National Assembly and the advisory body of tribal chiefs, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi. The National Assembly chooses the president, but once in office the president has significant authority over the legislature with only limited separation of powers. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) rules as a dominant party; while elections in Botswana are considered free and fair by observers, the BDP has controlled the National Assembly since independence. Political opposition in Botswana often exists between factions in the BDP rather than through separate parties, though several opposition parties exist and regularly hold a small number of seats in the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Festus Mogae</span> President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008

Festus Gontebanye Mogae is a Botswana politician and economist who served as the third President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He succeeded Quett Masire as President in 1998 and was re-elected in October 2004; after ten years in office. He stepped down in 2008 and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quett Masire</span> President of Botswana from 1980 to 1998

Ketumile Quett Joni Masire, GCMG, was the second and longest-serving president of Botswana, in office from 1980 to 1998. He was honored with the Knighthood of the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mompati Merafhe</span> 6th vice-president of Botswana from 2008 to 2012

Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe was a Botswana politician who was Vice-President of Botswana from 2008 to 2012. He was a retired Lieutenant-General and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 2008.

Moutlakgola Palgrave Kediretswe Nwako was a former politician and diplomat in Botswana. Nwako served as the first foreign minister from 1966-1969. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1989 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 16 October 2009, alongside local elections, with early voting in 26 polling stations abroad taking place 3 October. The result was a tenth successive victory for the Botswana Democratic Party, which won 45 of the 57 elected seats in the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Khama</span> Fourth president of Botswana from 2008 to 2018

Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician and former military officer who was the fourth President of the Republic of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force, he entered politics and was Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, then succeeded Festus Mogae as President on 1 April 2008. He won a full term in the 2009 election and was re-elected in October 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ponatshego Kedikilwe</span> 7th Vice President of The Republic of Botswana

Ponatshego Honorius Kefaeng Kedikilwe is a Motswana politician who was Vice-President of Botswana from 2012 to 2014. A member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), he has also served as Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources since 2007.

Margaret Nnananyana Nasha is a Botswana politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2014. She was the first woman to hold the position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 8 September 1984. Although the result was a fifth successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party, which won 29 of the 34 elected seats, the elections saw the opposition Botswana National Front make gains, winning both seats in the capital Gaborone and take control of all urban councils except Selebi-Phikwe in the simultaneous local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana Movement for Democracy</span> Right-wing populist political party in Botswana

The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) is a right-wing populist political party in Botswana, founded in 2010 by MPs and other politicians who parted ways with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) due to differences with Ian Khama, the leader of the BDP and the President of Botswana at the time.

Gaolese Kent Koma was a Botswana politician and businessman. He served in the National Assembly as Member of Parliament for Mahalapye village from 1965 to 1994.

Gladys Keitumetse Theresa Kokorwe is a Botswana politician who was the Speaker of the National Assembly from 2014 to 2019. She is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

Barbara Gemma Mogae is a Botswana public figure and politician who served as the third First Lady of Botswana from 1998 until 2008. She is the wife of former President Festus Mogae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slumber Tsogwane</span> Vice President of Botswana

Slumber Tsogwane is the current Vice President of Botswana and also Member of Parliament for Boteti West. He is the longest serving Member of Parliament of the 12th Parliament of Botswana. He took office on 4 April 2018, succeeding Mokgweetsi Masisi. He is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bathoen Gaseitsiwe</span> Politician and jurist from Botswana (1908–1990)

Bathoen Seepapitso Gaseitsiwe also known as Bathoen II was a Motswana Kgosi, jurist and politician who served as Chief of the Bangwaketse from 1928 to 1969. He served as Chairman of the Botswana National Front (BNF) from 1966 to 1985, Leader of the Opposition from 1969 to 1984 and President of the Court of Appeal from 1985 until his death in 1990. He represented the Kanye South constituency in the National Assembly for three consecutive terms. As the leader of the BNF, the then second largest political party in the country, he was the main opponent of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government, led by Seretse Khama and Quett Masire, during the first two decades of the African country's independence.

The following lists events that happened during the 1970s in Botswana.

The following lists events that happened during the 1990s in Botswana.

References

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  2. Ralph Morris Goldman (9 July 2002). The Future Catches Up: Selected Writings of Ralph M. Goldman, Volume 1. iUniverse. p. 214. ISBN   0595733867 . Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. "After 46 years in power, Botswana's Democratic Party face united rival". The Times . SAPA-AFP. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  4. Fombad, Charles M.; Steytler, Nico, eds. (10 September 2019). Decentralization and Constitutionalism in Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 468. ISBN   9780192585035 . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  5. Phirinyane, Molefe B., ed. (2013). Elections and the Management of Diversity in Botswana (PDF) (Report). Lightbooks. p. 31. ISBN   978-99912-71-50-7 . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  6. Derbyshire, J Denis; Derbyshire, Ian (2000). Encyclopedia of World Political Systems. New York: Routledge. p. 111. ISBN   9781317471561 . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  7. Member parties of the Socialist International
  8. "Botswana's Masisi retains presidency as BDP wins election". Reuters . Archived from the original on 18 October 2022.
  9. N. Parsons, W Henderson and T Tlou. Seretse Khama, 1921-1980. Gaborone: Botswana Society, 1995, 194-7.
  10. Parsons, Henderson, Tlou, Seretse Khama, Chapter 9.
  11. "Sarkozy décore le président du Botswana pour sa bonne gouvernance" Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine , AFP, March 20, 2008 (in French).
  12. ap.google.com, Former president of Botswana gets leadership prize Archived October 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. reuters.com, Botswana's Mogae wins African leadership prize [ dead link ]
  14. President Masire's Final Message to Botswana. https://www.academia.edu/33661982/President_Masires_Final_Message_to_Botswana
  15. "Inauguration address: President SKI Khama".
  16. Kebonang, Zein; Wankie, Wankie Rodrick (1 December 2006). "Enhancing Intra-Party Democracy: The Case of the Botswana Democratic Party". Journal of African Elections. 5 (2): 141–150. doi: 10.20940/jae/2006/v5i2a10 . ISSN   1609-4700.
  17. "Pula. Botswana Journal of African Studies". African Studies Companion Online. doi:10.1163/_afco_asc_563 . Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  18. "Botswana Breakaway Party Launched in Split With Khama (Update1)". Bloomberg Businessweek. 29 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  19. "2014 general elections results (MPs)". Daily News. 26 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  20. "Botswana ruling party wins national elections". Al Jazeera. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  21. MTHOKOZISI DUBE (1 November 2019). "Botswana opposition leader questions election results, wants to challenge them court". IOL.