By Marcus Moloko
Botswana National Front (BNF) President Duma Boko has officially acknowledged the presence of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema at the party’s ongoing National Conference in Jwaneng, in what observers describe as a highly symbolic moment for regional politics.
The BNF, a key member of the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition, has convened delegates to review progress, debate socio-economic policies, and initiate a constitutional reform process.
Against this contentious backdrop, Malema’s attendance notes deep ties between the two leaders and their shared history of political activism.
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Malema’s presence is particularly significant given that he was barred from entering Botswana for more than a decade.
The former administration under Ian Khama declared him a security risk in 2011 after he branded the government a “puppet regime.” That ban was lifted under Boko’s leadership, paving the way for Malema’s return.
Reflecting on their early days, Malema recalled meeting Boko in South Africa and years of planning to challenge political structures in Botswana.
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His address to delegates carried a strong anti-imperialist message, urging Botswana to emulate Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader Ibrahim Traoré by expelling foreign troops and military bases to safeguard African sovereignty.
President Boko used the platform to deliver a sobering assessment of Botswana’s domestic state, declaring that the economy inherited from the previous regime was on the “brink of liquidation,” according to reports.
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He credited the persistence and unity of BNF members for achieving political change and called for renewed commitment to national recovery.
