BDP primaries: Shock, tears, jubilation
Chakalisa Dube - Tsaone Basimanebotlhe - Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday July 19, 2024 10:35
Gaborone CentralThe fight for this constituency started way back and promised to get messy with time. However, things cooled down when one of the aspirants, Odirile ‘Vee mapeezy’ Sento was vetted out. This now means that this is a two-horse race between the former BDP National Youth League leader, Bontsi Monare, and the incumbent area Member of Parliament (MP), Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy. The BDP has never had the same representatives for this constituency going into a general election since 2009. It remains to be seen if Mangwegape-Healy will triumph this weekend to stand a chance to defend his seat during this year’s general election or Monare will win to continue the status quo.
ShoshongAnother tricky battle ground where the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Aubrey Lesaso, is fighting for survival. Lesaso is up against Tshwanelo Morotsi and Tshepho Makgalemele. This is a litmus test for Lesaso who joined the BDP from the opposition after the 2019 General Election.
Molepolole NorthIncumbent area MP, Oabile Regoeng, faces former youth league treasurer, Bashi Kgake in the battle. While Kgakge is said to have support in area, Regoeng is no weaker opponent and his incumbency might work in his favour. Regoeng has in the past battled against veteran politicians like the late Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri whom he lost to by a slim margin during the primaries in 2018. The other candidates are Kabo Sebele who tried his luck before and Phetso Kgosiemang. This provides for an interesting contest tomorrow.
Mahalapye WestWith the BDP looking to reclaim this constituency from the opposition in 2024 after losing it for the first time in 2019, President Mokgweetsi Masisi is surely looking for a strong candidate to do the job. Former area MP Bernard Bolele is up against lesser-known Goabaone Mompati Ntapu. This comes after one of the aspirants, former MP Joseph Molefe recently withdrew his candidacy.
GaMaleteMinerals and Energy minister, Lefoko Moagi, is surely eyeing a return to Parliament. He is one of President Masisi’s trusted lieutenants and best performing ministers. However, he has to get past Dr Derrick Tlhoiwe this weekend to secure his candidacy for the October General Election. Tlhoiwe, who is a health practitioner, made his debut in the 2019 General Election. He is a strong candidate who cannot be taken lightly. The GaMalete constituency contest is one to look out for this weekend.
GantsiAfter winning the 2019 election against Noah Salakae, which later on became a subject of High Court petition by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Johane Thiite will this weekend have a tricky fixture to get past. The incumbent MP faces Gregory Lesibe and Keletso Ramoswaana in what promises to be an exciting contest.
Kgalagadi SouthThe incumbent area MP Sam Brooks battles against Diana Kartze and Chabanga Chabanga. Brooks is looking to retain his parliamentary seat but first he has to manouevre the weekend challengers. Very tight call but Brooks may use his incumbency to go through this one.
Kgalagadi North Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Talita Monnakgotla is looking to make a comeback to Parliament. She is up against Justice Gaeonale and Moatlhodi Mahupu who are all determined to wrestle the opportunity from her.
LetlhakengSix candidates will battle it out in this constituency. This is a new constituency. The six are Tshepiso Lesope, Malebogo Malele, Liakat Kably, Wilfred Mokento, States Banyatsi and Otsenye Tsietso. Of the six, competition is expected mostly between Tsietso, Banyatsi and Kablay. This trio are said to have a strong base in the area. However, some believe that Kablay might win the area because as a Member of Parliament (MP), which Letlhakeng used to fall on, he has strong support. At first, Letlhakeng/Lephepe used to be a constituency before they were split into two.
TakatokwaneThe former MP Ngaka Ngaka and incumbent MP Friction Leuwe will battle it out his weekend to decide who will represent the party in the coming general polls. Both Leuwe and Ngaka are strong in the area. Currently, there is no relationship between the teams of both Leuwe and Ngaka. The candidates do not see eye to eye. Leuwe won elections in 2019 polls and is seeking his second term. Ngaka became an MP after winning a by-election in 2013, when the area became vacant after the death of MP Maxwell Motowane.
Jwaneng-MabutsaneThe primary elections for the Jwaneng-Mabutsane constituency will see four candidates vying for the position, with two of them currently serving as councillors. They will be competitive, with two candidates being particularly strong contenders. The four are John Motsumi, Olga Ditsie, Abram Molatole and Celcious Rambe. The competition is between Ditsie and Motsumi. While these two have an edge, but the other two candidates should not be underestimated.
Kanye East This is one of the interesting areas that many will be looking into. Former MP Kentse Rammidi, Thamiso Chabalala and incumbent MP Thapelo Letsholo will face each other in the primary elections. The trio is hard workers and are likely to pull more numbers compared to other areas. All the candidates stand a chance to win looking at their political background.
Moshupa/ManyanaThe constituency does not have much competition as compared to others. Five people will battle it out in the primary elections. Incumbent MP Karabo Gare will win it again as compared to other four candidates being Malaki Sebetlela, Benny Stegling, Kebaneetse Force and Masego Mopai. Gare has done a lot for his constituency in terms of development and he has never been absent in the area.
Goodhope/MmathetheAll eyes will be on this constituency as it is the most controversial one. Two ministers, the Minister of Finance, Peggy Serame, and the Minister of Health, Edwin Dikoloti, will face each other in a battle to represent the BDP in this year’s elections. Campaign between the two camps has been particularly contentious. It remains to be seen who will remain victorious between the two. So far, Serame appears to have the favour of the party leadership. However, there is a third contender, Kopo Mononi, who is relatively quiet and seems to be underestimated by many. Some believe he might pull off a surprise victory since the two ministers may split the votes, giving him a chance to win. Mononi is a former councillor and very popular in the Borolong area.
Kgatleng East In Kgatleng East, it will be a battle of cousins. One of the cousins is already the incumbent MP. Despite there being three contenders, the main competition is between the cousins due to their significant influence in the area. The three contenders are Mabuse Pule (incumbent), Edward Pule and Lucas Kgosi. Edward was the campaign manager for Mabuse in the last polls. Their fallout forced Edward to challenge Mabuse.
Francistown SouthThe real race is between Modiri Lucas, a nominated councillor who has been campaigning aggressively through benevolent activities and former Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng. Reikeletseng has been alternating between his base in Gaborone and Francistown in a bid to solidify his bid for the elections. Khumongwana Maoto, a former legislator, is also in the race. There is no evidence that Maoto, who has previously been in the leadership committee of the BDP’s Francistown region, has done enough to assert himself to the voters. Businessman Boitumelo Mageba is also in the race but sources in the BDP claim that he is not widely known.
TonotaThe race for the BDP primaries in Tonota has been punctuated by infighting between the two candidates. Former BDP Youth Wing chairperson, Andy Boatile, has been accused by his opponent Setshege Tapela of manipulating party structures in his favour. Francistown regional chairperson, Mpenzeni Sambandawu, was even called on to intervene recently. It is hard to predict who will emerge the winner because the two men have been growing in stature in recent years. Tapela is familiar with primaries in the constituency. He lost at the 2018 primaries which were meant to book candidacy at the 2019 General Election, but he has maintained close ties with BDP diehards in the constituency. Boatile is also familiar with elections. He won the council elections at the 2019 General Election.
Nata-GwetaIncumbent Polson Majaga face what would be his most difficult primaries. He is up against President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blue-eyed boy, Benjamin Radihepi, a veterinary practitioner, new in politics, veteran politician Oliphant Mfa, Mbanga Mbanga who lost the BDP primaries in 2019 and Montshiwa Montshiwa, a former highly regarded civil servant, whose last position was national coordinator, poverty eradication programme. The challenge for Majaga is that there are reports that influential figures in the constituency are doing all they can to ensure that Radihepi wins the primaries. If this is anything to go by and given the history in the ruling party, he is likely to lose. Majaga and other aspiring candidates even wrote a complaint letter to the party executive alleging that constituency structures are openly backing Radihepi.
Francistown WestBusinessman Gregory Kealotswe who lost the BDP primary elections in 2018 will face former BDP councilor for Monarch East, Raoboy Mpuang. Both Mpuang and Kealotswe’s campaigns have been of low key. This makes it hard to predict the winner or the intensity of the race between the two men.
Okavango WestIn Okavango West, Sekwaya Pikini faces stiff competition from the well resourced Akim Setswalo. Setswalo is an experienced political activist and former UDC member. He is also a shrewd businessman who has vast interest in the tourism industry. His resources gives him the edge according to sources. Pikini is Known for his activism regarding the deplorable state of the A35 Sehithwa-Shakawe road.