The Alliance for Progressives is a social-liberal political party in Botswana.
Alliance for Progressives | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Founded | 28 October 2017 |
| Split from | Botswana Movement for Democracy |
| Ideology | Social liberalism Civic nationalism[1] |
| Political position | Centre[2] |
| National affiliation | Umbrella for Democratic Change |
| National Assembly | 1 / 65 |
| Pan African Parliament | 0 / 5 |
History edit
In July 2017, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) president Ndaba Gaolathe and five other members of the party's executive were expelled from the party.[3] As a result, Gaolathe set up a new leadership committee, which was later transformed into a breakaway party, the Alliance for Progressives. The new party was formally established on 28 October 2017 with Gaolathe as leader and Wynter Mmolotsi as deputy president.[4] Six sitting MPs joined the party, although Haskins Nkaigwa later returned to the UDC,[5] leaving it with five seats going into the 2019 general elections.[6]
The elections saw the party receive 5.12% of the vote, finishing third behind the Botswana Democratic Party and the Umbrella for Democratic Change in terms of popular vote share. However, it only retained a single seat, with Mmolotsi winning in the Francistown South constituency.
Election results edit
National Assembly edit
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Ndaba Gaolathe | 39,561 | 5.12 | 1 / 65
|
New | 4th | Opposition |
References edit
- ^ Botswana Africa Elects
- ^ Brown, Chris (3 July 2020). "Botswana Votes 2019: Two-Party Competition and the Khama Factor". Journal of Southern African Studies: 721. doi:10.1080/03057070.2020.1778901 – via Taylor & Francis.
- ^ BMD splits and Alliance for Progressives is born The Economist Intelligence Unit, 27 September 2017
- ^ Alliance for Progressives Launches Botswana Daily News, 29 October 2017
- ^ AP loses Nkaigwa, gains Monageng The Patriot, 6 March 2019
- ^ Botswana’s ruling party has been in power 50 years. That could change this week. The Washington Post, 21 October 2019