Umbrella for Democratic Change

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is a centre-left to left-wingalliance of political parties in Botswana. Since the 2024 Botswana general election, the UDC has been the ruling alliance of political parties gaining 37.22%. beating the BDP by 7%.

Umbrella for Democratic Change
Abbreviation	UDC
President	Duma Boko
Vice-president
Founder	Duma Boko
Founded	November 2012
Headquarters	Gaborone
Ideology	Social democracy Left-wing populism Factions: Christian left Social liberalism Democratic socialism Pan-Africanism
Political position	Centre-left to left-wing
Colours	Navy blue
Slogan	Decent Jobs Decent Lives
Coalition Partners	AP BNF BPP
National Assembly	36 / 61
Pan-African Parliament	0 / 5
Politics of Botswana Political parties Elections

The UDC has campaigned on a progressive platform, advocating for a welfare state, wealth redistribution, renewable energy and democratic reforms, particularly in the electoral and judicial spheres. Since it was created as a political coalition with the primary aim of representing an alternative to the Botswana Democratic Party government, it has remained an ideologically pluralistic formation, though most of its member parties (both past and present) are positioned on the left-wing or centre-left of the political spectrum and is generally considered a social democratic alliance. Some analysts have labeled the alliance and its discourse as "left-wing populism" or "democratic socialist." UDC members, including UDC Leader Duma Boko himself, have expressed opposition to both capitalism and socialism, advocating instead for a "Third Way."

Since its founding, the UDC's core voter base has varied in composition with shifts in the voting behavior of anti-BDP voters. However, the coalition has generally maintained strong support among the urban population—especially in the Gaborone metropolitan area—as well as among youth and the educated middle class. In the 2019 election, through its alliance with Ian Khama, heir to the BaNgwato throne, the UDC gained substantial support from voters in the Central District, a stronghold of the tribe. Much of this support was retained in the 2024 election.

History

The UDC was founded in November 2012 by members from various opposition parties, including the BPP and BMD. They rallied together in the run-up to the 2014 elections by the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana Movement for Democracy and the Botswana People's Party with the aim of uniting the opposition in the 2014 elections. In February 2017, the Botswana Congress Party, which contested the 2014 elections independently, joined the coalition. The coalition is currently led by Duma Boko from the BNF and plans to contest the 2019 general election jointly, standing a single opposition candidate in each constituency against the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.

The organisation of the opposition parties presented an unprecedented challenge to the longtime-ruling BDP, but the BDP was victorious in elections held on 24 October 2014. Their vote share, which garnered 37 seats, allowed them to maintain a majority in the National Assembly, although it won fewer seats than it had in previous elections.

The UDC won 17 seats and the Botswana Congress Party won three seats.Ian Khama was easily reelected by the legislative body to another term as president.^{[citation needed]}

In October 2018, the BMD was expelled from the coalition after it refused to forgo contesting constituencies that had originally been allocated to it.

After the 2019 Botswana general election, Duma Boko charged there were "massive electoral discrepancies" and said he wanted to challenge the election in court. Official results show the BDP winning 38 of 57 constituencies.

At the 2024 election, held on 30 October 2024, the UDC emerged as the majority party.

Members

Party		Abbr.	Ideology	Seats in the National Assembly
	Botswana National Front	BNF	Social democracy Christian left	23 / 61
	Alliance for Progressives	AP	Social liberalism	6 / 61
	Botswana People's Party	BPP	Democratic socialism Pan-Africanism	4 / 61
	Independents	Ind.	(N/A)	3 / 61

Electoral history

National Assembly elections

Election	Party leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
2014	Duma Boko	207,113	30.01%	17 / 57	11	2nd	Opposition
2019		277,071	35.88%	15 / 57	3	2nd	Opposition
2024		310,862	37.22%	36 / 61	28	1st	Government

See also

• Duma Boko
• Elliot Moshoke

References

1. Gaofise, Lorato (16 July 2019). "UDC VOWS TO REDIRECT COUNTRY WEALTH". DailyNews. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
2. "Political analysts dismiss UDC?". The Botswana Gazette. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
3. Gabathuse, Ryder (19 February 2021). "Will the UDC ever take over government?". Mmegi. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
4. "Privatising Gaborone bus rank bitterly divides BNF and BMD". Guardian Sun. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
5. Ntshingane, Bakang (16 August 2019). "Is populism surging into Botswana politics?". Mmegi. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
6. "Botswana". Africa Elects. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
7. Gabathuse, Ryder (30 October 2020). "A frustrating moment for the royal blue movement". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
8. "Privatising Gaborone bus rank bitterly divides BNF and BMD". Guardian Sun. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
9. "Botswana election: A baptism of fire for democracy". DW. 21 October 2019.
10. Mawarire, Teldah (23 October 2014). "We're on the government's hit list – Botswana opposition leader". Mail and Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
11. "Duma Boko, el abogado de derechos humanos convertido en el nuevo presidente de Botsuana". infobae (in European Spanish). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
12. "Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Manifesto Highlights". Botswana Gazette. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
13. Mmegi Online (8 February 2016). Duma Boko's Political Ideology. Retrieved 2 November 2024 – via YouTube.
14. Chutel, Lynsey (25 October 2024). "Botswana Election Won by President, Despite Rift with Predecessor". The New York Times.
15. "Botswana opposition groups unite to challenge ruling BDP", Reuters, 3 February 2017.
16. "Elections Botswana". Elections Botswana. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
17. UDC kicks out BMD, at last… Weekend Post, 29 October 2018
18. Botswana: Lowest levels of registration undermine elections APA News, 14 January 2019
19. MTHOKOZISI DUBE (1 November 2019). "Botswana opposition leader questions election results, wants to challenge them court". IOL.
20. "Botswana election: BDP party loses power after nearly six decades to Duma Boko's UDC".

1. During the 2014–19 parliamentary term, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (2 seats) left the UDC, whilst the Botswana Congress Party (3 seats) joined the UDC, resulting in the UDC holding 18 seats)