Richard White to run for BCP in Kgalagadi South

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday February 19, 2014 17:44

The BCP has not fielded a candidate in Kgalagadi South since 1999 when Anna Motlhagodi lost to Neo Moroka of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

According to BCP spokesman, Taolo Lucas, the reason the party has not fielded a candidate for such a long time is that it could not identify a suitable person in the constituency. Taolo believes the BCP will attract good numbers because it has a suitable candidate in White.

“We have already started mobilising and recruiting people to join our party (in the constituency),” he said. “I know it might look hard because we have not run in Kgalagadi South since 1999, but things are already looking up, I can tell you.”

White is a businessman who is well known in the constituency because he has always been active in socio-political issues. Informed sources say he has the support of certain members of the BDP who became aggrieved when they lost in their party’s last primary elections in the constituency. They intend to turn their followers over to White, according to sources.

The constituency has been in the hands of the Botswana National Front (BNF) since 2004 when John Toto beat the BDP’s Moroka.

A relative unknown, Frans van der Westhuizen, won this year’s BDP primaries while Toto will run for the BNF once again.

White was born in the United Kingdom in 1949 and came to Botswana to work for the Department of Wildlife as a UN volunteer in 1977. He joined District Administration as a District Officer (Lands) and served in Kasane and Tsabong. White is married with one son.