Voter turnout impressive—Maroba on Bosele, Grootlaagte

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Saturday March 25, 2023 12:18

 

Speaking to Osupile Maroba this morning, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) spokesperson said: “We have received reports that the turnout at Bosele Primary School is good and people had started to queue up to cast their votes at around past five in the morning.

We also started well on time at 6am.” Maroba said in the 2019 General Election, 86% of Bosele ward residents had voted out of the 1,773 who had registered to vote. He said this is one of the biggest wards in Gaborone Bonnington North Constituency. He, however, said during the by-election, it is rare for them to reach the previous numbers that voted in the general elections.

At Bosele ward, five candidates registered to vote and those battling it out include Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) Isaac Moseki, Botswana Labour Party's (BLP) Olebile Sesupo, Botswana Congress Party's (BCP) Kgomotso Kaelo, Umbrella for Democratic Change's (UDC) Mpule Maplanka, and independent candidate Molomo Montsho. Maroba said there is also a good turnout at Grootlaagte in Ghanzi North Constituency. “Information we received indicates that residents of that ward had been queuing since 5am to vote. Over 600 people voted in the 2019 General Election.” Those in the polls include Botswana Movement for Democracy's (BMD) Theko Kopanelo, BDP's Moretlwa Petro, UDC's Tjitemisa Sehakgamaleng, and independent candidate Jacob Malesele. The two by-elections follow open vacancies after the deaths of the area councillors. Voting continues.