23 Jul 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko has urged Botswana National Front (BNF) members to respect other Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition members.

President Boko, also Botswana National Front (BNF) leader, said at the party’s elective congress and 60th anniversary in Palapye on Sunday, that BNF should not claim superiority as all coalition members’ voices were equal in the run of government. He said the coalition, made of BNF, Alliance for Progressives and the Botswana People’s Party, was a blend of voices.  

"BNF members must treat fellow affliates with humilty, recognising that we are all equal partners,” he said.

He said it was only through their sustained and continued unity as well as cooperation at all levels that they could resuscitate the country. He further cautioned party members against human pitfalls that often followed success such as entitlement, complacency, laziness, arrogance, lowering one’s guard and other ills. 

“It is unfortunate that after all the hard work we put into getting to where we are now, we see these ills in our own members,” he said.

He expressed concern that the party’s ideology of ‘Puo Phaa’ was being used as a vehicle to shield vulgar, abrasive actions and communications by some members of the party against other members and the party. He said the mandate of the members of the ruling party, which BNF was part of, was no longer about governing itself, adding that they were expected to govern themselves at a national and international level.

He therefore called on them to be presentable not just in appearance, but in character, speech and in conduct at all time. He emphasised that as representatives of Botswana, they must be the living embodiment of respect, integrity, kindness, gentleness and warmth. Chairperson of Klaas Motshidisi region, Mr Kabo Ketshogile called on party members to remain united. ENDS