FNBB executive enters race for Ftown East
Chakalisa Dube | Monday April 10, 2023 06:00
Bogopa works as a branch manager for FNBB in Francistown. He has, however, remained tightlipped on the reports linking him to the BCP primaries. The primaries are meant to book candidacy for the 2024 General Election. The BCP is yet to issue a writ for the primary elections but speculation has been growing that Bogopa is poised to challenge Vain Mamela in a bid to secure candidacy for the next general election. Bogopa is said to be the preferred choice of many BCP diehards in the constituency.
However, recently, Bogopa told Mmegi that he cannot discuss his reported candidacy in the media. “I am not at liberty to comment on issues related to reports that I want to contest the primary elections in Francistown East. I will be violating the conditions of my employment. I can only comment about what you are asking me about only if am not under the employ of FNBB,” Bogopa said in a brief response.
Bogopa has for years been doing behind the scenes advocacy work for the BCP. Sources claim that he has already started preliminary works to ready himself for the primary elections.
In fact, insiders allege that he has already identified a team of council candidates he will prefer to work with at the primaries. Meanwhile, Mamela, who until recently was seen as the front runner in the race to represent the BCP in Francistown East declined to comment on reports linking him to the constituency. He maintained that he can only comment once the party has issued a writ for the primary elections. Mamela contested the 2014 General Election in Francistown West and lost to Ignatius Moswaane.
He is not new to Francistown West. He was the area Member of Parliament (MP) from 1994 until 1999 under the BNF banner. He has also previously lost the general elections in 2004 and in 2009 under the BCP. Francistown East has been under the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) for a very long time. In fact, it is one of the ruling party strong holds. The BCP has come second best in the constituency in three consecutive general elections. In all three occasions, the party was represented by attorney Morgan Moseki. Additionally, the BCP has a fairly good following in the constituency.