16 Jul 2026

The Botswana People’s Party (BPP) will this Saturday hold its Second leadership forum in Francistown.

The forum will bring together party leaders from across the country to assess progress, strengthen internal structures and align the organisation with its strategic priorities as the country moves closer to the electoral cycle.

BPP Secretary General, Ms Mmantlha Sankoloba said the forum was intended to review the implementation of resolutions adopted during the first leadership forum held two months ago, while also evaluating the party’s organisational progress over the past period.

She explained that the meeting will further seek to strengthen leadership cohesion and adopt practical measures that would accelerate the implementation of the party’s strategic objectives.

According to Ms Sankoloba, the forum would also provide an opportunity for leaders to engage candidly on the challenges facing both the party and the nation, while ensuring that the BPP remained a disciplined, responsive and people-centred organisation.

On why the party is convening another forum just two months after the last one, the secretary general said leadership development was a continuous process that could not be confined to annual gatherings. She noted that while the first forum laid a strong foundation by identifying priorities and setting a clear direction, much more work remained to be done.

She said the party believed in regularly reviewing progress, addressing emerging challenges and maintaining momentum. Since the first forum, she added, significant progress had been made but additional work was required to strengthen structures, improve coordination, refine programmes and prepare the party for the next phase of growth and electoral readiness.

Ms Sankoloba said the forum would also deliberate on a wide range of strategic matters including progress on resolutions from the first meeting, organisational strengthening, constituency development, membership growth and mobilisation.

“It will also look at political education and ideological orientation, youth and women empowerment within party structures, communications and public engagement, as well as the party’s contribution within the Umbrella for Democratic Change government,” she added.

Other issues to be discussed include national socio-economic challenges and BPP policy responses, preparations for future elections, resource mobilisation and institutional sustainability.

She stated that the party expected the forum to adopt practical resolutions that would strengthen implementation and accountability.

These, she said, would include clear action plans for leadership deployment, membership expansion, policy advocacy, strengthening of grassroots structures, communication strategies and timelines for implementing key organisational programmes.

The aim, she explained, was to ensure that every leader left the forum with measurable responsibilities and clear deliverables.

On how the outcomes will impact the party’s preparations for upcoming elections, Ms Sankoloba said the forum would significantly strengthen the party’s readiness by improving organisational efficiency, enhancing leadership coordination and strengthening constituency structures.

This, she noted, would increase the party’s political visibility and ensure that the BPP was fully prepared to mobilise communities and present practical solutions to the challenges facing Batswana.

She stressed that electoral success began with a well-organised party and that the forum formed part of that preparation.

Touching on the current state of the party, the secretary general said BPP continued to experience renewed growth, increased membership and renewed confidence among its supporters.

She said internal structures continued to be strengthened and that the party remained united around its founding principles of social justice, Pan-Africanism, democracy and national development.

While acknowledging that every organisation encounters challenges, she said the party’s focus remained on unity of purpose, organisational discipline and delivering meaningful leadership to the people of Botswana.

Ms Sankoloba said the BPP remained committed to serving the people with integrity, patriotism and visionary leadership. She assured the nation that the party continued to work tirelessly to build a stronger economy, create sustainable jobs, empower young people, support local enterprise, strengthen democratic governance and improve the quality of life for every citizen.  ENDS