Masilo, Pheto get re-run

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday January 23, 2014 16:40

Mmegi has learnt from reliable inside sources that the region has ruled for re-runs in Gabane/Mmankgodi and Mmopane/Lentsweletau constituencies.

Gabane/Mmankgodi was protested after Lesedi Mmusi won by 909, followed by the Member of Parliament Mmoloki Raletobana with 799 votes and Duke Masilo trailed behind with 782 votes.  Masilo protested the results on the grounds that the voters’ roll was tampered with prior to elections and Tsholetsa House promised to correct the anomaly and suspend the perpetrators, which was not done. The region believes that Masilo had brought enough evidence to prove his case before reaching a decision for re-run, the sources say.

Another MP who protested in the Kweneng region was Moeng Pheto who had lost to specially elected MP Vincent Seretse in the battle for Mmopane/Lentsweletau. Seretse had won by 2,032 votes against Pheto's 2,024.  Like Masilo, the region believes that Pheto had provided enough evidence to prove his case. Kweneng region chairperson Motlhophi Leo could not confirm or deny that they had ordered re-runs for these two constituencies. 'Of course we have heard those cases. We will be hearing all outstanding ones and by Friday will be done with them. The region will have to report to the central committee first,' he said.

Some of the cases that were dismissed include the one in which Kabo Sebele protested results after he garnered 1,060 to lose to Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri who had posted 1,931 in Molepolole South.  In Molepolole North Shima Monageng’s protest against veteran Daniel Kwelagobe was also unsuccessful. Kwelagobe had scored 1,624 votes while Monageng managed 1,358 votes.  Meanwhile, the Kweneng region has been left with less than 10 primary elections’ appeals.  The BDP central committee has given all regions up to Sunday to wrap up the cases. The committee will look into all the appeals on January 28.