Khama rejoices in UDC victory
Mompati Tlhankane | Tuesday April 12, 2022 06:00
Mankie Sekete won the ward with 335 votes while Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) Onkemetse Mothei and Botswana Congress Party’s (BCP) Peter Mogapi came in second and third with 245 and 238 votes respectively.
Former president Khama, who is cuurrently on self-exile in South Africa, posted a video in which he congratulates a woman over a phone call. The woman confirmed that she is indeed Sekete. “I applaud you because you have really done well. You were not just competing against other candidates but you were even competing against Masisi who was apparently doing house-to-house campaigns. I even heard that the DIS was used to buy voters. Congratulations, we are very happy,” Khama told the woman on the phone. “On Friday, in a grotesque and deplorable display, a Masisi motorcade swept him to go and make an unbecoming but typical speech where he presided over prayers for the remains of Cava in Serowe, and on Saturday in a welcome and now typical display, the UDC buried those Cava remains in Bophirima ward,” Khama further posted on Facebook. Khama’s BPF honoured the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) made by opposition parties when it comes to by-elections while an affiliate of the UDC, BCP formed an alliance with the Alliance For Progressives (AP).
The BCP’s contention was that their preferred candidate, Mogapi, should have been the UDC candidate instead of Sekete. After Sekete’s victory, the UDC quickly recognised the major role played by BPF in the win. “This result would not have been possible if it were not because of the sacrifices and contributions of men and women within and without our alliance.
We are humbled by your continued support and the selfless contributions and sacrifices of our members as well. To the BPF, we say thank you, for being on the side of principle. Your principled stand in respecting the by-election MoU as noted,” UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa revealed in a press statement yesterday. While Khama had congratulated UDC’s Sekete, the BCP president and UDC vice president Dumelang Saleshando had not yet congratulated Sekete on the win. Now it remains to be seen what will be next for the BCP after contesting and losing the Bophirima ward outside of the coalition.