Bdp invades opposition territory

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) parliamentary candidates in the 18 opposition held constituencies will this weekend engage in a rat race during the Bulela Ditswe primary elections after it was delayed and postponed by the party leadership last year through a high court ruling in which they had appealed to have civil servants barred from participating in the party primary elections, an appeal which they eventually won. The following constituencies are up for grabs, including those the BDP feels they hold by a thread.

FRANCISTOWN SOUTH

The constituency is currently held by Wynter Mmolotsi who first won it in 2009 by flooring its former Member of Parliament (MP) Khumongwana Maoto only for Mmolotsi to defect to the newly formed Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), an offspring of the BDP. In the 2014 general elections, Mmolotsi proved to be a favourite among voters as he went on to floor the current Francistown City Mayor Sylvia Muzila. This time around the primary election pits former FCC Mayor Lamodimo Dikomang against former area MP Maoto who will be itching for sweet revenge against Mmolotsi in the 2019 general elections. Another contender for the constituency is Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blue-eyed boy Jojo Lucas Modiri who freely supplied Masisi with the famous Dubai camp during last year’s BDP congress in Tonota. It remains to be seen whether both Dikomang and Maoto will use their former connections to overcome the youthful Modiri who will be banking on the youth to support him on Saturday. Modiri told The Midweek Sun recently on campaign trail that he is the future of BDP at Francistown South. He believes that the party lost the constituency because it had fielded an elderly candidate in Muzila.

MAUN WEST

hairperson Reaboka Mbulawa is unopposed at the constituency thanks to the expulsion of Duncan Enga who was unceremoniously booted out of the BDP last year for disrespecting a party caucus. He was accused of colluding with opposition councillors to wrestle the chairmanship from Mbulawa. During the past general election, Mbulawa garnered 5,335 against Tawana’s 7,271. He would later be rewarded with a nominated councillor seat before his ascension to the Council chairmanship only to be overthrown by Enga. This time around Mbulawa has his fingers crossed to snatch the constituency from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) if Tawana does not contest, as he has alluded.

NGAMI

The Ngami constituency which was narrowly won by Thato Kwerepe in 2014 with a margin of 48 votes against Botswana Congress Party’s (BCP) Goyamang Taolo Habano will be contested by Kwerepe and former MP and cabinet minister Jacob Nkate. The former Botswana Ambassador to Japan Nkate returned home last year to try his luck in the past BDP congress in which he was embarrassed by Mpho Balopi who went on to be elected the party’s secretary general under Masisi’s team. It remains to be seen whether Nkate will resurrect once again in a constituency he once dominated. Kwerepe will be banking on his incumbency and closeness with area councillors to win the right to represent the constituency.

OKAVANGO

n an opposition held constituency since the days of its late area MP Joseph Kavindama who was succeeded by Bagalatia Arone who has since defected to the ruling BDP. This time around, the BDP has fielded Arone and his fierce rival Mbahahauka Kambimba whom he defeated by 6,864 to 5473 in the past general elections. When Arone, who is the incumbent area MP crossed the floor to join BDP Kambimba made his intentions known that he was going to challenge the MP. Kambimba is likely to come out with a surprise victory basing on his experience and the massive campaigns he has undertaken in the constituency. The winner is most likely to face BCP’s Kenny Kapinga, a former high ranking Police and later Botswana’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe.

SELIBE PHIKWE WEST

At Selibe Phikwe West, BDP candidate Allen Lekwapa will be unopposed to face off with Botswana Congress Party (BCP) incumbent Member of Parliament Dithapelo Keorapetse. Political think tanks in the area say that Lekwapa is an unknown face in politics but do not rule out a possibility of a surprise outcome. 

MOGODITSHANE

Former Member of Parliament for the area Patrick Masimolole will not have it easy this time around as he is faced with stiff competition from President Ian Khama’s blue eyed boy Tshepang Mabaila who has been reportedly making inroads within the constituency through his various donations under the Mabaila foundation. Other candidates include Balaotse Otisitse, and Kgang Kgang. The constituency was snatched from the ruling BDP by Sedirwa Kgoroba under the UDC banner before he jumped ship to join Alliance for Progressives (AP).

GABANE- MANKGODI

The constituency will see four candidates - Kagiso Mmusi, Philip Mokento, Pius Ntwaagae and Joseph Makati – slugging it out. In the last general elections Major General Pius Mokgware of the UDC floored Placid Lesedi Mmusi of the BDP by 7155 votes to 6833 votes. It remains to be seen whether the opposition will manage to retain the constituency or split the votes given the presence of AP. Constituencies that have agreed on consensus candidates include Kanye South (Dr Lemogang Kwape), Goodhope Mabule where Eric Molale will once more try his luck following his defeat last year during a by-election caused by the resignation of UDC MP James Mathokgwane to join SPEDU. Other constituencies with consensus candidates include Tlokweng (Thaloganyo Segokgo), Gaborone North (Mpho Balopi), Gaborone Central (Tumisang Healy Mongwegape), and Bonnington North (Anna Mokgethi). The other constituencies up for grabs include Mochudi West where Bakgatla Kgosi Kgolo’s younger brother Mmusi Kgafela will battle Batlhalefi Leagajang who honed his political skills whilst a student at the University of Botswana under the GS26 banner. At Ramotswa constituency, Lefoko Moagi and Lentswe Monare will battle it out whilst at Gantsi North Gregory Apollo Losibe will face Johane Luther-Tine Thiite. At Molepolole South, Kabo Morwaeng and Shima Monageng will battle for the coveted title on Saturday. The constituency was for a very long time held by the BDP’s Daniel Kwelagobe until he was defeated by Dr Tlamelo Odirile Mmatli in the 2014 general election. Gaotlhaetswe Matlhabaphiri will be pitted against Botsalo Maroba Rabogadi at Molepolole North whereas the Jwaneng-Mabutsane constituency will see Specially Elected Member of Parliament Mephato Reatile, Amos Johana and Dibeela Michael Shobashoba in a tight competition.