As the time for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) elective congress draws nearer more democrats are raising their hands to be considered as candidates to lead the party. One of the surprise names to throw his hat in is the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Philip Makgalemele who has decided to challenge his former ally Botsalo Ntuane for the Secretary General position. Makgalemele, who will be regarded as a dark horse as he is pitted against the party’s heavyweights being Ntuane and Jacob Ntuane, has confirmed his candidature. In a brief interview with this publication, Makgalemele confirmed that he will be contesting for the party’s chief scribe position at the Tonota elective congress. He refused to state which lobby group he is in, though reliable sources have revealed he has replaced Ntuane in the Nonofho Molefhi faction after Ntuane decided to disassociate himself from lobby groups. Makgalemele, who is the MP for Shoshong, will be trying his luck in the party’s top three positions for the first time. The former President of Botswana Football Association (BFA) is one of the founding members of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) but did not take long before returning to the BDP.