- Hail Tsogwane for women and youth empowerment - Tsogwane’s strength to be tested

Botswana Democratic Party National Youth Executive Committee (NYEC) and Women’s Wing have unanimously resolved to endorse the candidature of Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane for party chairman.

Tsogwane is up against former MP and Minister Nonofo Molefhi for the second in command position of the BDP, which is holding its elective congress in Tsabong this weekend.

This is Tsogwane’s first contest as chairperson of the BDP following his appointment as chairman by President Mokgweetsi Masisi in 2018 when Masisi ascended to the presidency. Molefhi on the other hand challenged and lost to Masisi during the 2017 Tonota elective congress.

The youth wing, which was voted into office at the youth congress in Bobonong has also indicated that it supports Tsogwane’s lobby members in their respective positions at the upcoming National Congress to be held in Tsabong.

NYEC General Secretary Batsweletse Kgagamedi stated that Tsogwane is a staunch believer in youth empowerment and leadership development as he has been a mentor and a father to youth in the party, as well as the nation at large, hence “we see him as a pivotal figure in advancing our youth mandate as BDP NYEC.”

According to Kgagamedi, the endorsement also comes as a vote of confidence and support in Tsogwane and his team's abilities to unite and help President Mokgweetsi Masisi to lead the party to a resounding victory at the 2024 polls.

“The BDP as a democratic dispensation respects and accommodates the importance of diverging views from its members, it is therefore imperative to note and wish well, all other democrats in the race for party leadership positions and implore us to emerge an even stronger and more united party post the National Congress,” he said.

For her part, the Women’s Wing Chairperson Peggy Serame who is also Minister of Finance heaped praise on Tsogwane, adding that he is a stalwart advocate for women empowerment and leadership development as he has been a mentor and a father figure to all women in the party, as well as the nation at large, hence they see him as a pivotal figure in advancing the women mandate.

“Tsogwane has been, I believe, one of the best chairmen of the BDP in our history. He is selfless, hardworking, impressively smart, and overall an extraordinary human being.”

Furthermore, the BDP National Women’s Wing added, "VP Tsogwane has the experience, the vision, the leadership and the path, not just to win an election, but to unite the party and truly deliver on the overall BDP mandate that all Batswana and Democrats deserve.”