The BCP was formed by 11 sitting MPs and immediately became the official opposition in parliament.

Party president Michael Dingake served as Leader of the Opposition until parliament was dissolved in advance of the 1999 general elections.

However, talks to form an alliance with the Botswana National Front proved fruitless.

Pact partner BAM won 2.3% of the vote and defeated the former Minister of Education and Skills Development, Jacob Nkate, in the Ngami constituency.

Despite its losses to the BCP, the BDP won enough constituencies from the BNF to increase its overall representation by one seat.