The Secretary General of the Botswana democratic Party (BDP), Daniel Kwelagobe confirmed this week that the Central Committee had received Autlwetse’s petition. The four candidates who contested in the constituency have also been served with the petition.
Among other things Autlwetse petition alleges that his campaign team was intimidated and harassed by the winner - Ramadeluka Seretse’s supporters. It alleges that on two occasions,during the build up to the re-run, the tent in which his campaign team slept was brought down during the night by a member of opponent’s campaign team. The same supporter is alleged to have poured a white substance in the fuel tank of the generator used by Autlwetse’s camapaign team and disappeared with the petrol cap.
Another instance of intimidation cited in the petition relates to an incident which happened on the eve of polling day at Majwana a Dipitse when Seretse’s team allegedly occupied the freedom square at which Autlwetse’s team was to address a rally. A similar incident allegedly took place at Tshimoyapula where Autlwetse’s team was forced to leave a freedom square and were followed by his opponent’s supporters who caused commotion by playing loud music and blowing their hooters.
The petition also alleges that Seretse intimidated voters. According to the petition while voters were waiting in the queues his opponent allegedly told them that they must vote for him as the soil they were walking on belonged to Seretse (Ba gata mo mmung wa ga Seretse.”
According to Autlwetse’s petition he was also personally intimidated and harassed. The petition alleges that two of the candidates searched his vehicle without his permission or that of his driver.
The petition also challenges the results of the re-election on the grounds that the regulations governing such election were violated. It takes issue with the fact that three of the five candidates who contested in the first election withdrew from the contest on the eve of polling day and threw their weight behind Seretse. According to the petition this was a breach because the regtulations state that “subsequent to the vetting by the respective committee all and only approved candidates shall stand for the relevant primary elections.” He argues that withdrawal of any candidates may only be made before the election is commenced in the whole constituency so that voters are able to vote for the remaining candidates in the whole constituency with the full knowledge that there are two candidates only.
The candidates who withdrew from the contest are Prince Kgwaneng, Simon Kerebotswe and Iphemele Kgokgothwane.
The petition further argues that it is unfair that Tshimoyapula ward alone should determine the parliamentary candidate as opposed to all the wards in the constituency. The other wards had five candidates to choose from, whereas Tshimoyapula only had two in which case voters in the other wards were prejudiced.
Autlwetse’s petition has since been forwarded to the Technical team which considered the last petitions which resulted in four re-reruns being held early this month.
By the time we went to press we could not reach Autlwetse as he was said to have travelled outside the country.
