Reikeletseng finally joins BDP primaries race
Chakalisa Dube | Monday October 23, 2023 06:00
The date for the primaries is yet to be confirmed. However, an expression of interest for those wishing to contest the elections was issued last week. Reikeletseng, who was linked with contesting the BDP primaries in 2018 ahead of the 2019 General Election before reportedly chickening out, confirmed in an interview with Mmegi that he has officially submitted his name to contest Bulela Ditswe.
“I submitted my name to contest the primaries to book candidacy for the next polls a few days ago. I am now waiting for the decision of the party. Although I am constrained to say much, I am optimistic that I will be vetted in,” he said.
He added: “I assume in my favour that I am ready to contest the primaries”. He had previously denied any links to contesting primaries in Francistown South. “As of now, I have not thought about representing the BDP in the 2024 General Election or contesting the primaries. Right now I am very busy with other things in life,” he told Mmegi in an interview late last year.
Francistown South is under the Alliance for Progressives (AP). The BDP is very keen to recapture the constituency because it used to be its stronghold before incumbent Member of Parliament Wynter Mmolotsi defected to the opposition more than a decade ago. Some think that Reikeletseng has an added advantage because he grew up in the constituency.
Gaborone-based Reikeletseng has been frequenting Francistown South for over a year in a bid to enrich his campaign. He will face Modiri Lucas, who is a familiar face at the BDP primaries. Lucas has confirmed his candidacy. He (Lucas) confirmed that he submitted his expression of interest on Monday. He has also been aggressively campaigning.
He has staged various philanthropic activities in the constituency in a bid to strengthen his primary election bid. ‘Jojo’ as Lucas is popularly known, contested the BDP Francistown South primaries in 2018 and won, although he lost to Mmolotsi a year later at the general elections. There are reports that another well-known face at the primaries is that of former area legislator Khumongwana Maoto, who has applied for candidacy in Francistown South and two others whose names remain unknown.
Maoto was unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, in Francistown East, former Francistown mayor and current MP, Honest Buti Billy will slug it out with incumbent mayor Godisang Radisigo. Radisigo, who is considered Billy’s political disciple, has long made his intention clear to challenge the incumbent MP. The plus for Billy is that he has fought many intense political battles and won.
On the other hand, Radisigo has been leveraging on his position as the mayor to indirectly campaign for the primaries. Businessman, Gregory Kealotswe and former Monarch East Councilor Raoboy Mpuang are among those who have so far joined the race to contest the BDP primaries. Mpuang has reportedly been running a low-key campaign.
Indications from various sources within the BDP highlight that ‘Grembo’ as Kealotswe is affectionately known is said to be a regular in the constituency. Mpuang has been off the political limelight for a while.