Umbrella for Democratic Change

Umbrella for Democratic Change
Abbreviation UDC
Leader Duma Boko
Founder Duma Boko
Founded November 2012
Headquarters Gaborone
Colours      Blue
Slogan Embrace change
Advocate for change
Coalition Partners BNF
BMD
BPP
BCP
National Assembly
17 / 63
SADC PF
0 / 5
Pan-African Parliament
0 / 5

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is a political alliance in Botswana.[1]

The UDC was founded in November 2012 by members from various opposition parties, including the BDP 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.[2]

The organization of the opposition parties presented an unprecedented challenge to the longtime-ruling Botswana Democratic Party, but the BDP was victorious in elections held on October 24, 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 3 seats. Khama was easily reelected by the legislative body to another term as president.

References

  1. ↑ Mawarire, Teldah (23 October 2014). "We're on the government's hit list - Botswana opposition leader". Mail and Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Botswana opposition groups unite to challenge ruling BDP", Reuters, 3 February 2017.
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