Political parties ready for Serowe-West by-election
Pini Bothoko | Monday May 8, 2023 06:00
Khama has been in South Africa since last year after he and his wife, Thea Khama and his twin brother, Anthony were briefly detained and questioned by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) over alleged possession of weapons of war.
Together with his elder brother, former president Ian Khama and their other family members, they are currently living in South Africa because they say that they fear for being persecuted by the President Mokgweetsi Masisi government.
Mmegi quizzed political parties about their readiness ahead of the looming by-election at the Serowe West constituency and they are ready to contest and probably win while the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) is confident to retain the seat. Even though the BPF is currently faced with chaos following key members resigning from the party, political analysts are of the view that there is no threat to the BPF retaining the seat in any by-election in the constituency.
They (analysts) strongly believe that Serowe constituencies are safe for now and the BDP even with State assets cannot win the seat because voters in the area are behind the BPF and the disqualification will be interpreted by many as a continued onslaught by the current regime on the tribe and its leadership. Reached for an interview, the BPF's spokesperson, Lawrence Ookeditse was adamant that the BPF will retain the seat without doubt despite allegations that some party members are doing everything to de-campaign the party president, Biggie Butale’s leadership.
Ookeditse stated that like any other political party, they are currently getting ready in preparing for the by-election should the IEC call a by-election anytime. Asked to rate their chances of retaining the seat, Ookeditse was confident that Serowe is the stronghold of the BPF and there is no threat to the party retaining the seat in any by-election in the constituency.
“We know that the BDP will try to use its power to frustrate us but we are ready to face them. We have numbers rallying behind the BPF and we will surely retain the constituency without a doubt. We are from the congress and preparations are ongoing ahead of Mmaphula-East ward and Serowe West Constituency by-elections respectively with the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC),” Ookeditse said. Former cabinet minister Moiseraela Goya and former mayor of Francistown, James Kgalajwe have reportedly raised their hands as prospective BPF candidates in this looming parliamentary by-election in Serowe West. However, Goya has refuted allegations that he is eyeing the constituency. Many are of the view that the BPF still has potential especially in the Central District. This is where the party won three Serowe-based constituencies, which since independence were the BDP unshakable stronghold. Legislator Mephato Reatile would later decamp from the BDP to join the BPF becoming the party’s fourth legislator. The BPF also played assists in other constituencies in the Central District where the beneficiary was mainly the UDC. For his part, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse said as the ruling party they do not see Khama’s disqualification as an opportunity to contest and probably win the area but they feel sorry for the people of the Serowe West constituency “The people of that area voted for Khama with expectations of having a leader and a representation in Parliament only for him to abandon them. We feel sorry for the people of Serowe West.
However, should the IEC call a by-election, the BDP is ready to participate. That area has been one of BDP’s strongholds for decades and we only lost it to the BPF in 2019,” he said. Kentse was adamant that the BDP still has a lot of BDP followers in Serowe West who were not pleased with 2019 General Election outcomes and they are ready to vote for party anytime and help BDP to win the area back. Commenting on behalf of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the party’s spokesperson, Mpho Pheko said the BCP notes that there is a lot that is going on in the nation that requires the party to stand on the side of the people of Botswana to facilitate an authentic, credible and sustainable change of government. “Standing on this side and facilitating this type of change of government requires that we contest as many elections and by-elections as possible. Only then, our message regarding authentic regime change that is anchored on economic prosperity, democracy and good governance, can be made heard,” she said. Pheko further stated that they also note that Serowe has not been a BCP stronghold but nonetheless, the party’s decision to contest will be guided by its local structures (region and constituency). However, Pheko revealed that the local structures are currently conducting an evaluation that will inform the party’s decision.