AP, BNF fight over Molepolole South

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 12, 2024 06:00

The two fought on opposing sides in 2019, but AP’s decision to join the opposition coalition last year has changed everything leaving the constituency in AP’s hands. Both warring parties lost to incumbent area legislator, Kabo Morwaeng, of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) who won convincingly by garnering 10,228 votes in 2019. Mmatli, who then represented the UDC, came second with 2,733 votes while Monageng managed only 1,471 votes. It has since become apparent that Mmatli is complaining about Monageng whom he accuses of having abandoned the constituency following their losses in the 2019 General Election. According to Mmatli, Monageng had not been active in the area until last year when he heard that AP and UDC will be cooperating. “I have been managing this constituency on behalf of the UDC even after I lost to the ruling party, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). I did not leave the area, instead I ensured that the membership grew. Of course, AP was not part of the UDC but some of its members in the area have been working collectively with us. Monageng was nowhere to be found,” Mmatli said.



He added they are calling for primary elections to be held in Molepolole South constituency in order for members to choose their preferred candidate. Moreover, he said they have requested the party office to mediate in the matter. Mmatli said even some AP members share the same sentiments with him especially the ones who have been active and ensuring that the party structure does exist in the absence of Monageng. Contacted for comment, Monageng said he was aware of this issue. “Some people are just playing politics, at the wrong time when UDC is supposed to be winning government. Even if UDC wins, we aim to increase the number of Members of Parliament (MPs), not a scenario where BDP has no competition in Parliament. We need strong opposition. Look at Molepolole council, we do not have even one opposition councillor. That is completely wrong.” Monageng admitted that UDC is divided in his constituency and blamed Mmatli for the division. The UDC candidate said he wonders why Mmatli is still amused by this issue when presidents of different parties addressed it and AP won. He said what shocks him most, is that they (Monageng and Mmatli) had talked and agreed to support each other before the announcement of constituency results but now he has since changed. Monageng also said now that Mmatli has not been successful with his complaint, his wish is for the latter to accept the results so that they could both start working together.

He continued; “UDC cannot win this area if it continues to be divided. We will have to engage our party leaders so that they can come and reconcile us.” Monageng said it was not true that he had abandoned the area when he had been contesting in the area for several years. The UDC candidate said he contested for BDP primary elections four times in the same constituency before defecting to AP. Therefore, he pointed out that there is no way he could not be active in a constituency that he has an interest in. He said since their reconciliation has failed with Mmatli then both BNF and AP leaderships should come and address members to further preach reconciliation. Meanwhile, BNF secretary-general Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said; "there is no fighting, there has never been any fighting and there will never be any fighting because there is cordial relationship between the BNF and the AP and all its partners at the UDC." "We are focused on the course of change of government for reconfiguration of the State and economic empowerment of Botswana," he added.