Mabeo wins BCP Gamalete primaries
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday October 10, 2023 06:00
In the recent primary election in Gamalete, Mabeo emerged victorious with 1,995 votes out of over 3,000 voters, a notable feat considering the circumstances. In the 2019 General Election, he finished a distant third under the Alliance for Progressives (AP) banner, securing only 1,338 votes, 657 less than what he garnered at his new political home. “I had more experience than other candidates that I stood with.
Having contested for the 2019 general elections for a parliamentary seat has helped me a lot even to understand the dynamics of the area. I crossed to BCP after being advised by the constituents,” Mabeo said in an interview on Saturday. “Again, the party members welcomed me with open hands and I started to work the ground from then till today.
I was confident that I would win since my team had 18 aspirant council candidates. Some have done well and we are going to work with everyone for our party.” He expressed confidence in their potential to win the area in the 2024 General Election, if they remain united and work diligently. Mabeo's campaign, notably visible in BCP strongholds like Otse, contributed to his victory. He commended the absence of a negative campaign and stressed the importance of unity.
Donald Keakile secured the second position with 1,053 votes, followed by Geoffrey Moduka with 644. Mabeo believes that the BCP is poised for substantial success in the 2024 General Election, even amidst political heat and opposition challenges. Factors such as the land dispute between Balete and the government might affect the ruling party negatively in the next year’s elections.
In the 2019 General Election, Samuel Rantuana of the BCP secured the second position, trailing behind Lefoko Moagi of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) who garnered 12,969 votes. Gamalete, previously known as Ramotswa, has historically been a BCP stronghold. In the 2014 General Election, the BCP won the area with former Member of Parliament, Rantuana.