BDP in hunt for new candidate

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday August 19, 2009 00:00

 

In an interview with Mmegi yesterday, BDP executive secretary Dr Comma Serema said: 'His Excellency President Khama has tasked the Electoral Board to look for a new candidate, as Motswaledi's suspension runs for two months and as you know we go for general elections in October, which is in two months.

That is why H.E. has ordered the board to look for a candidate to represent the party in that constituency.'

When Mmegi sought to know if there has been any progress in finding a new candidate, Electoral Board chairman Parks Tafa said he was away on leave and 'I am not aware of instructions to look for a new candidate, but if it's true people would have to go through the primary elections as is the norm. But I can't comment further as I don't have details at the moment.'

Last night Motswaledi confirmed that he has been served with a suspension letter, which among others things gave him 14 days to appear before the Disciplinary Committee. He also confirmed that he has been suspended from standing in Gaborone Central on the BDP ticket.

When asked to give an estimate of how much he has spent on the political campaign for the constituency, Motswaledi, speaking in a somber voice, said that his expenses run into hundreds of thousands. He said he started a well-synchronised and organised campaign two years ago.

'We rented an office in Extension 5, which we used as our campaign headquarters. It had staff members who ran it daily. A spent a lot of money every week where I bought airtime for my campaign officers, sound systems to use at the rallies, posters on combis and a whole lot of things. The money that I spent is quite a lot,' he said.