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Two horse race in Bobirwa
ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer
12/4/2005 11:49:13 PM (GMT +2)
SELEBI PHIKWE: Though there are three candidates, the Bobirwa North East council seat by-election tomorrow is a two-horse race between Matlhodi Modisapodi of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Kimbel Malesela of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
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Independent candidate, Kgauhelo Machete is a no-hoper in the battle for the seat. Many people have been wondering how he conducts his campaigns as he has never been seen even addressing a rally. But
Looking at the support he has made and the fact that he the candidate of the high riding joint opposition, Malesela of the BCP has reason to be hopeful. His other strength is that he is an experienced hand in politics. But his winning card remains the joint vote of the opposition that has seen the BDP lose two council seats in recent by-elections. Though Bobirwa is a BDP stronghold, the BCP has been making steady progress in the constituency and is now confident of victory with the backing of other opposition parties. Prominent opposition leaders have been to the area to campaign for Malesela since October. But it is not easy to predict whether the BCP will win the seat though the deep divisions in the BDP ranks in the area and nationally might work in its favour. It is suspected that disgruntled BDP voters may back Malesela to spite Modisapodi. If the people vote according to tradition, the BDP and Modisapodi stands to benefit because the party has enjoyed unrivalled support in the area since independence. In addition, the BDP is ahead in the game of numbers in the ward. This is because 403 people turned out for the ruling party primaries as compared to 342 for Malesela. In the last general election, the BDP won the ward by 757 votes as the BCP lagged behind with only 319. Senior BDP members including cabinet ministers have been visiting the ward to campaign for Modisapodi.
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