The Botswana National Front (BNF) has ushered in new Central Committee(CC) leadership in its recently concluded 60th anniversary congress held in Palapye over the holidays.
After a few days of election fever marked by intense anticipation, highly the election of the anticipated elections finally yielded results, ushering in a new era of BNF leadership collectively tasked with steering the party through its first term in government. The elections, which are a hallmark of the BNF’s internal democracy, saw delegates casting for their preferred candidates, reflecting a party committed to unity and renewal.
In the lead-up to the congress, two broad groupings informally crystallised under the banners Team Stability and Re Aga Tempele. True to the BNF’s tradition, these were not permanent factions but temporary groupings that the party customarily views as dissolving immediately after the elections. When the votes were counted, Re Aga Tempele emerged dominant, securing 10 out of the 12 contested positions on the Central Committee.
Among the key outcomes was the election of Minister for State President, Moeti Mohwasa, to the post of Vice President of the BNF. His victory was seen as a strong endorsement of his longstanding contribution to the party’s strategic leadership, both in and outside of government. Closely following that, Dr. Steven Modise, who currently serves as Minister of Health, was elected as Secretary General after a tightly contested race. His elevation marks a generational shift in the party’s administrative leadership and is expected to bring renewed energy to the BNF’s secretariat.
The party presidency was retained by Advocate Duma Boko, who was unopposed. Other results include Moses Bantsi’s election as Chairperson and Johannes Motsamai’s decisive win as Organising Secretary. Mompati Seleka secured the portfolio of Political Education, while Joseph Carter emerged as the Secretary for Information and Publicity. The elections also filled other strategic roles, including Health and Social Welfare, International Affairs, Labour Affairs, and Economic Affairs.
The outcome of the elections has set the tone for a leadership collective that reflects both continuity and change—anchored in party tradition, but attuned to the demands of governance. With the congress concluded, the newly elected Central Committee is now expected to drive forward the BNF’s organisational agenda and strengthen its role within the broader Umbrella for Democratic Change(UDC) coalition.
