Botswana: Active political parties

Updated June 2010

New party

Party	Leader	Founded
Botswana Movement for Democracy	Gomolemo Motswaledi (interim chair)	29 May 2010

Party merger

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) merged in May 2010 and retained the name Botswana Congress Party while adopting a new logo. A new Central Committee is scheduled to be elected on 19 July 2010 at a national party congress.

Parties that contested 2005 election

Parties ordered by the number of seats obtained in the 2009 National Assembly election or, if none, by the number of candidates fielded.

Party	Leaders	Founded
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Formerly: Bechuanaland Democratic Party	Lt Gen Ian Khama Festus Gontebanye Mokae Sir Ketumile Joni Masire Sir Seretse Khama (d 1980)	1961/2
Botswana National Front (BNF)	Otsweletse Moupo Bathoen Gaseitsiwe Dr Kenneth Koma	10 October 1966
Botswana Congress Party (BCP)	Gilson Saleshando Otlaadisa Koosaletsi Michael Dingake	June 1998
Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM)	Ephraim Lepetu Setshwaelo	1999
Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) Formerly: Bechuanaland Peoples Party - Matante	Bernard Balikani Knight Maripe Phillip Matante	1963
MELS Movement of Botswana (MELS)	Themba Joina	1993
Botswana Tlhoko Tiro Organisation (BTTO)	John Modise	Apr 2008