The BDP has commended the UDC for prioritizing merit over party loyalty in appointments
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has praised the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government for breaking with the party-loyalist approach it once practiced, opting instead for merit-based appointments, even as the decision appears to be unsettling some staunch UDC supporters.
BDP Secretary General Kentse Rammidi, speaking to the Botswana Gazette, urged the UDC not to apologize for appointing qualified individuals from across the political divide. “Competence and credibility, not political alignment, should guide appointments,” Rammidi said, drawing on the BDP’s years of governing experience.
He cautioned the UDC against yielding to internal pressures from party members demanding preferential treatment, warning that decisions based solely on loyalty could be divisive.
LESSONS FROM BDP’S PAST
Rammidi recalled that the BDP faced similar challenges under former President Festus Mogae, when party members accused him of sidelining loyalists in government appointments. Mogae responded by emphasizing that all qualified Batswana, regardless of party affiliation, could serve in government. “Government is not only about members of the party in power,” Rammidi noted, urging the UDC to adopt a similar approach.
CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENTS SPARK DEBATE
The debate intensified after the UDC appointed Botswana Congress Party (BCP) activist Sedirwa Kgoroba to an ambassadorial post, a move some critics view as an effort to neutralize government critics. Other appointments, such as former Selibe Phikwe mayor Lucas Modimana—who left the BDP after the 2024 elections and later joined the UDC—have also sparked debate within the party. Long-serving UDC members argue they were overlooked in favor of these politically diverse appointees.
Since taking office following the October 2024 elections, President Duma Boko has reiterated his commitment to serving all citizens regardless of political affiliation. UDC spokesperson Dr. Patrick Molutsi was unavailable for comment.