The party was founded by Shawn Nthaile in September 1993 at a special congress in Mahalapye, following his departure from the Botswana National Front.
[1][2] Nthaile charged that he had been kept out of senior positions in BNF due to his ethnic affiliation.
Through the BWF Nthaile sought to promote the interests of labourers and his own Bakgalagadi ethnic group.
[4] At the time of the 1994 parliamentary election BWF joined the United Democratic Front, a coalition of parties opposed to both the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the BNF.
[6][7] At the time, Nthaile served as deputy president of the party.