16 Oct 2025

Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has vowed to participate and compete strongly in the upcoming Kgalagadi South by-election as part of its ‘Going South’ plan to ensure the party competes effectively in the southern part of the country.

Addressing a press conference in Gaborone on October 14, BCP leader Mr Dumelang Saleshando said they had been absent for a  long time from Kgalagadi South, as per the 2024 general elections results, which showed that the party did not fare as well as it would had wanted to in the southern part of the country.

“Out of the 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) that we have, only two are from the southern part. So, we are very intentional about this that we would want to commit greater energies, resources and time to making sure that the party competes effectively in the southern part of Botswana,” he said.

By having two BCP MPs in two constituencies in the southern part of the country, the BCP leader said was evidence enough that Batswana did not reject BCP.

“There are a number of constituencies in the southern part of Botswana where no party can claim is their strong hold. They swing from one party to another and it has mainly been the former ruling party and the current party. So, we would like to give the voters an option of BCP, as a strong contender in the area,” he said.

Mr Saleshando, who is also the Leader of Opposition and Maun North MP, said BCP had identified a candidate and would be deploying its foot soldiers throughout the Kgalagadi South constituency in preparation for the upcoming bye-election.

“We will see what Batswana have to say. We have been absent the longest on that part of the country. We were not on the ballot paper for 2019 and 2024 general elections and this will serve as an opportunity for the party to have a good assessment of how it performs in the most Southern part of the country,” he added.

 He said from now onwards, till the 2029 general election, the BCP would be contesting bye-elections everywhere, in the country, whenever there was a bye-election. 

Additionally, he said BCP would also contest in another bye-election that would be held in Boteti-West constituency, following the death of Moreomaoto Ward councillor, Mr Diagelo Madimo. ENDS