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BCP’s Boko motion divides BDP MPs

BCP’s Boko motion divides BDP MPs BCP’s Gobotswang files Motion of No Confidence against Boko BDP’s Pule will support; Mataosane wants solid reasons advanced Gare insists the motion is unfair as UDC is new in government Tswapong South Member of Parliament, Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang, has publicly declared that the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) intends to introduce a motion of no confidence against the President; a bold gesture that vividly captures the mounting frustration among opposition ranks over what they have characterized as a calamitous inaugural year of President Advocate Duma Boko’s administration. In an interview, Gobotswang articulated the BCP’s conviction that ample time has passed to render a fair and thorough evaluation of the President’s leadership. “At the pace and manner in which affairs are unfolding, a year since assuming office is more than sufficient to assess his performance,” he asserted. “Our verdict is unequivocal: the President has been an unmitigated disaster. There can be no hesitation, he must face a motion of no confidence.” Gobotswang underscored that this stance is firmly anchored in parliamentary precedent, recalling a moment of political reckoning when President Boko himself endorsed a similar motion against former President Mokgweetsi Masisi within just six months of Masisi’s ascension following the 2014 General Elections. “We have afforded him ample opportunity to demonstrate his capability, yet he has failed in the most spectacular fashion,” Gobotswang lamented. He revealed that preparations are underway for the motion’s introduction upon Parliament’s reconvening. “The BCP caucus is actively deliberating on the timing and manner of the motion,” he explained. “Moreover, we intend to engage with fellow opposition parties and sympathetic members within the Umbrella for Democratic Change to build a coalition.” At the heart of the BCP’s indictment lies the dire state of the nation’s public healthcare system. Gobotswang castigated the President for his neglect of this critical sector, charging that systemic failures have precipitated avoidable deaths and widespread suffering. Last year, the President declared a public health emergency, attributing the crisis to a catastrophic collapse of the medical supply chain, a malaise that had been festering for over a decade. In his State of the Nation Address, the President claimed that emergency interventions had stabilized medicine supplies, citing availability figures of 36 percent for critical medicines and 63 percent for vital medicines. Gobotswang sharply contested these statistics, accusing the government of deliberately withholding baseline data to obscure the true extent of the crisis. “They conspicuously avoided presenting comparative data on medical supplies from November 2024 to November 2025, for they know the evidence would reveal a downward spiral,” he charged. “On the ground, the reality is grim. The UDC government has unequivocally failed to prioritize healthcare.” He further proposed austerity measures that the government should have enacted immediately to channel resources into the health sector. Among his recommendations were the suspension of non-essential international travel by the President, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior public officers; the abolition of constituency allowances for underperforming council and parliamentary representatives, as well as for the President and Speaker; and the reallocation of funds to health spending, even if it necessitated pausing the Bonno Housing Programme. Gobotswang did not limit his critique to healthcare alone. He accused the President of a grave constitutional breach by refusing to sign death warrants for convicted murderers, contending that such inaction amounts to a dereliction of his constitutional duties. “It is widely known that the President, who prides himself as a human rights lawyer, opposes capital punishment,” Gobotswang noted. “Yet, with the extensive resources at his disposal, there is no plausible explanation for taking a full year to consider these cases. He is merely stalling, forsaking the solemn oath to protect and uphold the Constitution.” In an effort to capture diverse perspectives, this publication reached out to three Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Members of Parliament; Mabuse Pule, Karabo Gare, and Pabalelo Motaosane, who collectively emphasized that their views were personal and did not necessarily reflect the official party line. Pule expressed unequivocal support for Gobotswang’s motion. “I will definitely back the motion of no confidence,” he affirmed. “Anyone with a clear mind would do the same.” He further revealed that the BDP is strategizing to unseat the UDC government by any means necessary ahead of the 2029 general elections. “We intend to employ every tactic at our disposal. The BDP commands a majority of votes, and in alliance with the BCP, we could form a coalition to remove the UDC. They are simply not delivering.” Conversely, Gare raised doubts about the motion’s underlying motives. “We must look beyond appearances,” he cautioned. “Is this truly in the nation’s best interest, or merely a partisan power play?” He suggested that it might be premature to unseat President Boko, warning that such a move could tarnish Botswana’s international reputation. “Certainly, there are many aspects I find troubling, but mistakes are inevitable for any new government; they must learn. In my view, this motion risks damaging our standing as a stable and reliable nation.” Motaosane added a nuanced voice to the debate, stating that he would only support the motion if the issue of the Constitutional Court’s establishment were cited as a principal concern. “The UDC was vociferous in criticizing the lack of consultation during the BDP’s constitutional review process,” he observed, “yet now they are repeating the same error.” He insisted that the UDC should pursue a comprehensive constitutional review, integrating the establishment of the Constitutional Court as part of a broader amendment process. “They are rushing the court’s creation, which will squander public funds. This approach would force citizens to participate in a referendum now, followed by another later for the full constitutional review.” Under Botswana’s Constitution, a motion of no confidence can only succeed if it garners the support of a majority of all Members of the National Assembly. Thus, for the BCP to transform its threat into legislative reality, it must secure broad opposition coordination and cross-party backing, an arduous task that will test the unity and resolve of Botswana’s political opposition. Post Views: 444

admin Published: January 19, 2026 | Updated: January 20, 2026 6 minutes read

BCP’s Boko motion divides BDP MPs

BCP’s Gobotswang files Motion of No Confidence against Boko
BDP’s Pule will support; Mataosane wants solid reasons advanced
Gare insists the motion is unfair as UDC is new in government

Tswapong South Member of Parliament, Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang, has publicly declared that the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) intends to introduce a motion of no confidence against the President; a bold gesture that vividly captures the mounting frustration among opposition ranks over what they have characterized as a calamitous inaugural year of President Advocate Duma Boko’s administration.

In an interview, Gobotswang articulated the BCP’s conviction that ample time has passed to render a fair and thorough evaluation of the President’s leadership. “At the pace and manner in which affairs are unfolding, a year since assuming office is more than sufficient to assess his performance,” he asserted. “Our verdict is unequivocal: the President has been an unmitigated disaster. There can be no hesitation, he must face a motion of no confidence.”

Gobotswang underscored that this stance is firmly anchored in parliamentary precedent, recalling a moment of political reckoning when President Boko himself endorsed a similar motion against former President Mokgweetsi Masisi within just six months of Masisi’s ascension following the 2014 General Elections. “We have afforded him ample opportunity to demonstrate his capability, yet he has failed in the most spectacular fashion,” Gobotswang lamented.

He revealed that preparations are underway for the motion’s introduction upon Parliament’s reconvening. “The BCP caucus is actively deliberating on the timing and manner of the motion,” he explained. “Moreover, we intend to engage with fellow opposition parties and sympathetic members within the Umbrella for Democratic Change to build a coalition.”

At the heart of the BCP’s indictment lies the dire state of the nation’s public healthcare system. Gobotswang castigated the President for his neglect of this critical sector, charging that systemic failures have precipitated avoidable deaths and widespread suffering. Last year, the President declared a public health emergency, attributing the crisis to a catastrophic collapse of the medical supply chain, a malaise that had been festering for over a decade. In his State of the Nation Address, the President claimed that emergency interventions had stabilized medicine supplies, citing availability figures of 36 percent for critical medicines and 63 percent for vital medicines.

Gobotswang sharply contested these statistics, accusing the government of deliberately withholding baseline data to obscure the true extent of the crisis. “They conspicuously avoided presenting comparative data on medical supplies from November 2024 to November 2025, for they know the evidence would reveal a downward spiral,” he charged. “On the ground, the reality is grim. The UDC government has unequivocally failed to prioritize healthcare.”

He further proposed austerity measures that the government should have enacted immediately to channel resources into the health sector. Among his recommendations were the suspension of non-essential international travel by the President, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior public officers; the abolition of constituency allowances for underperforming council and parliamentary representatives, as well as for the President and Speaker; and the reallocation of funds to health spending, even if it necessitated pausing the Bonno Housing Programme.

Gobotswang did not limit his critique to healthcare alone. He accused the President of a grave constitutional breach by refusing to sign death warrants for convicted murderers, contending that such inaction amounts to a dereliction of his constitutional duties. “It is widely known that the President, who prides himself as a human rights lawyer, opposes capital punishment,” Gobotswang noted. “Yet, with the extensive resources at his disposal, there is no plausible explanation for taking a full year to consider these cases. He is merely stalling, forsaking the solemn oath to protect and uphold the Constitution.”

In an effort to capture diverse perspectives, this publication reached out to three Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Members of Parliament; Mabuse Pule, Karabo Gare, and Pabalelo Motaosane, who collectively emphasized that their views were personal and did not necessarily reflect the official party line.

Pule expressed unequivocal support for Gobotswang’s motion. “I will definitely back the motion of no confidence,” he affirmed. “Anyone with a clear mind would do the same.” He further revealed that the BDP is strategizing to unseat the UDC government by any means necessary ahead of the 2029 general elections. “We intend to employ every tactic at our disposal. The BDP commands a majority of votes, and in alliance with the BCP, we could form a coalition to remove the UDC. They are simply not delivering.”

Conversely, Gare raised doubts about the motion’s underlying motives. “We must look beyond appearances,” he cautioned. “Is this truly in the nation’s best interest, or merely a partisan power play?” He suggested that it might be premature to unseat President Boko, warning that such a move could tarnish Botswana’s international reputation. “Certainly, there are many aspects I find troubling, but mistakes are inevitable for any new government; they must learn. In my view, this motion risks damaging our standing as a stable and reliable nation.”

Motaosane added a nuanced voice to the debate, stating that he would only support the motion if the issue of the Constitutional Court’s establishment were cited as a principal concern. “The UDC was vociferous in criticizing the lack of consultation during the BDP’s constitutional review process,” he observed, “yet now they are repeating the same error.”

He insisted that the UDC should pursue a comprehensive constitutional review, integrating the establishment of the Constitutional Court as part of a broader amendment process. “They are rushing the court’s creation, which will squander public funds. This approach would force citizens to participate in a referendum now, followed by another later for the full constitutional review.”

Under Botswana’s Constitution, a motion of no confidence can only succeed if it garners the support of a majority of all Members of the National Assembly. Thus, for the BCP to transform its threat into legislative reality, it must secure broad opposition coordination and cross-party backing, an arduous task that will test the unity and resolve of Botswana’s political opposition.

Post Views: 444