Kaartze plots BDP revival in Kgalagadi South
The Kgalagadi South parliamentary seat became vacant two months ago following the death of Dr. Micus Chimbombi of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
On November 15th, 2025, three political parties, the UDC, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) will go head-to head in a crucial by-election.
This week as we begin profiling the front-runners from each camp, our reporter DANIEL CHIDA talks to BDP candidate Diana Memory Kaatzee, who lost to UDC’s Chimbombi with a margin of 2 600 votes in the 2024 general elections.
Having previously lost, how do you plan to bridge this gap this time?
I have always believed that a loss is a lesson in disguise therefore I never believe that I lose. That 2,630-vote gap wasn’t failure, it was a message. It told me to listen more, to engage more deeply, and to bring people closer into the conversation.
This time, we are not chasing numbers, we are building relationships. I have gone back to every ward, Werda, Tsabong, Gakhibana, Bokspits clusters not with speeches, but with an open ear. We are reconnected with people, who felt left out, and I can feel the shift. We have strengthened our ground teams, we have improved communication, and above all, we have restored confidence. This time, the BDP is not coming as an opposition; we are coming as a family that never abandoned its people.
Which voter groups or areas are you focusing on?
My main focus is on the ordinary Motswana, the everyday heroes who keep our communities alive. That means young people who are hungry for opportunity, women who are holding families together, and farmers who are the backbone of our rural economy. We are also reconnecting with families who have always stood with the BDP, reminding them that this movement has always been about stability, not politics and that we have been building together. Geographically, we’re focusing on the areas that define Kgalagadi South, Werda, Tsabong, Bokspits, clusters including Khawa. These are not just places; they are the heartbeats of our history. I’m walking among them again, not as a visitor, not as a new face who has not worked with them in times of challenges but as their own daughter coming home.
What is the most significant change in your campaign strategy?
The biggest change is how we engage. This time, we are not waiting for rallies or big gatherings. We have gone back to the basics; heart-to-heart campaigns and building relationships that are trustworthy as well as political education as compared to propaganda.
We’re having small but meaningful conversations in homes, and kraals or any other place that offers an opportunity for interaction. Every person counts. Every voice matters.
We are also become more organised, more disciplined, and more personal. We are using social media to reach the youth, while also respecting traditional structures, the elders, churches, and community gatherings.
We want people to see that leadership is not about noise; it’s about consistency, honesty, and connection. We are not just campaigning to win votes; we are rebuilding trust.
How will you convince voters who supported the UDC last time that you are the right choice now?
First, I understand them. Many voted for the UDC not because they disliked the BDP, but because they were frustrated, they wanted change. And that’s fair. But what we have seen over the past year is that our culture is richer and wiser than all of us- ‘Setswana sare molemo wa kgang ke go buiwa’. It took the hands of many, young and old, women and men from all walks of life together to build this peaceful country that never had the challenges we experience now. So, I am not here to judge them. I am here to invite them back home. The BDP has always been about peace, progress, and people. We built the foundation of this country, and we’re ready to rebuild where things have fallen apart because we have the experience and had similar challenges back in 2014/15 and 2020 even worse but the BDP government managed all situations well and no lives of Batswana were compromised.
What are your concrete plans to create jobs and stimulate the local economy?
The region relies mostly on Agriculture and livestock. As such, to address the issue of unemployment I will focus on; tourism development, promoting sustainable tourism, such as photographic safaris, film production, and game viewing, and support community-owned lodges to ensure benefits flow to local people.
I will create jobs for the youth by using local resources, such as the sand brick-making projects. I want all assets of the constituency to be managed and coordinated by the people of Kgalagadi South. They have to take part in the decision-making process of the trust.
What unique perspective do you bring as a woman candidate?
I am a great communicator. I think differently; I apply logic, reason and emotional aspects in equal proportion, to the solution of problems. I have an unusual amount of intuition and empathy when it comes to people which I gained from my background as a Healthcare professional. I am able to figure out motivations and intentions with a high rate of accuracy, with people whom I’ve had very little interaction with.
How is your relationship with former MP, Sam Brooks who stepped down for you?
Brooks has pledged his unwavering support for my candidacy and we enjoy a cordial relationship as democrats. At this point, all of us as BDP members in Kgalagadi South realize that this isn’t about our self interests but about the party. We are still bleeding from our 2024 loss and as such we have all learned from the past, including differences emanating from our internal elections. We have moved past that and we are determined to hold hands and reclaim the constituency. This is our common goal.
How about support from the party?
I am very happy with the support the party is giving me, particularly from the Party President and the Central Committee who are all currently hands on and very active in the constituency.
What caused the BDP’s 2024 loss?
In my opinion, UDC gained favor by over promising things that they are now failing to deliver. The voters of Kgalagadi South are now aware of this and we expect them to correct it on 15 November. Another view is that the party’s loss was in part self-inflicted. As I’ve alluded above, the primaries left a lot of democrats disenfranchised and therefore very unhappy, and some demonstrated their unhappiness by not voting for the party. It is a lesson learnt by all of us, we move on.
What is your final word to the voters?
This time, I’m telling voters: “You can’t build the future by punishing your past. Let’s move forward together.” I’m offering leadership that listens, that understands, and that delivers, not in words, but in action. “Politics is not war; it’s a duty of care.
I’m not running to prove anything; I’m running to continue serving. The people of Kgalagadi South know my heart, and I know theirs. Together, we will rise again.” And there is a common saying in Afrikaans that: “As die pad verlore raak, moet jy teruggaan na die kruispad.” We are here to rebuild together based on truth and hope. Thank you.
