Tati North by-election too close
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday June 15, 2026 06:00
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) are reportedly facing challenges in rallying support from some members who lost in their respective primary elections.
According to insiders, they believe the alleged lack of unity within the two major parties could have a significant impact in a ward where electoral margins have historically been extremely narrow. However, the two parties have been working so hard to rectify the damage to win.
The 2024 General Election results highlight just how competitive Tati Siding North has become. The UDC clinched victory with 321 votes, edging the BDP by a single vote after the former ruling party secured 320 votes. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) followed with 283 votes, while the Botswana Republican Party (BRP) garnered 211 votes.
Consequently, no political party can confidently claim dominance in the ward ahead of next week's poll. Instead, the figures suggest that the contest remains wide open, with every vote likely to play a crucial role in determining the winner. Attention has also turned to the Botswana Republican Party (BRP), which is not fielding a candidate in the upcoming by-election despite securing a sizeable share of the vote in 2024. Its 211 votes are now viewed as a potential kingmaker, with competing parties expected to court former BRP supporters to boost their electoral prospects. Meanwhile, both the BCP and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) have retained the candidates who represented them during the 2024 elections. Their decision reflects confidence in candidates who are already familiar to voters in the constituency.
The by-election has attracted six candidates, including two independents. Independent candidates Pinnie Chinyepi and Scotch Majama will be seeking to upset the established parties. Majama previously contested the 2024 election as a candidate for the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). Chinyepi had a falling-out with the Botswana People’s Party (BPP), an affiliate of the UDC.
The remaining candidates are Thobekile Nchenje of the BCP, Nyandoro Phia of the BPF, Kwenzakele Sibunga of the BDP, and Keitumetse Tlhalerwa of the UDC. As campaigning intensifies, candidates are expected to focus not only on consolidating support within their traditional political bases but also on attracting undecided voters and supporters of parties not participating in the race.
Furthermore, voter turnout could prove decisive in a constituency where previous elections have been decided by razor-thin margins. The narrow gap between the UDC and BDP in the last election serves as a reminder that even a small shift in voter preference could alter the outcome.
With internal party dynamics, independent candidates, and the redistribution of BRP votes all likely to influence the race, the Tati Siding North by-election is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched electoral contests in the region.