A reflection on Mmopane by-election

As has been reported by the state media, the Botswana Congress Party(BCP) contested the Mmopane by-election that was held on 28 July 2007 and won. The BCP won the ward by securing 353 votes, as opposed to the 174 votes that the party had registered during the 2004 general elections.

The performance of the party shows that the BCP has increased the votes it attracted by over 100 percent in less than three years. A total of 811 valid votes were cast and the BCP captured 44 percent of the votes, compared to the 16 percent that the party had captured in 2004, showing a quantum leap of 28 percent.

It is necessary that the results of the by-election be contrasted with the 2004 results as we have done above. Like all by-elections, only voters who had registered to vote in the 2004 general elections for the Mmopane were allowed to vote over the weekend. The results show that the BCP has been able to increase its votes, while other contesting parties attracted less votes. These results show that the people of Mmopane found the campaign by the BCP and its candidate to be the most credible. We are convinced that it was on the basis of the message of the BCP as detailed in our various policy documents such as the Democratic Development Programme and the 2004 election manifesto that more voters continue to be attracted to the BCP. It should be remembered that the BCP registered electoral growth in a number of by-elections that have been held ever since 2004, while our opponents fared poorly.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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