Mokalake accepts defeat
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday April 15, 2014 13:49
He lost to Sethomo Lelatisitswe by 1,575 to the latter’s 1,502 votes. Lelatisitswe first won the BDP primaries last October before the ruling party leadership called for a re-run after it was discovered that the polls had irregularities. Also in the contest was Oboetswe Gabotlale who could only muster 31 votes.
After the counting of ballots at the Saturday polls, Mokalake was not at the centre to share his views. Gabotlale who at the last October primaries managed 900 votes, had prior to the weekend elections written to the party indicating that he was withdrawing from the rerun election race. However, the party reportedly did not accede to his request because he submitted his withdrawal late. Lelatisitswe’s win means that he will represent the BDP in Boteti East later this year. “I do not have a problem with the loss. The party members have exercised their democratic right to vote for someone to represent them at the general elections,” Mokalake told Mmegi yesterday.
But did his loss show lack of confidence by voters towards him? Molalake responded; “I believe I have served my constituents well but obviously I can’t judge myself. If they felt that I had some shortcomings when it comes to representing them I do not have a problem with them voting me out of the race.” Mokalake is also uncertain as to whether he will contest for political office in future or not. “After my term in parliament towards the end of the year I intend to focus on other interests which I cannot disclose for now.
In a brief interview yesterday Lelatisitswe told Mmegi that the rerun win shows that the BDP constituents value his leadership qualities and are eager to see him representing them in Parliament. At the tender age of 35 years, Lelatisitswe, a pharmacist technician by profession, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University Of South Africa. He was Project Manager North at ACHAP between 2002 and 2006.
He has also worked for Debswana’s Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines as well as the Jwaneng Town Council in various health departments. His last formal employment was in September 2011 at the Central Medical Stores where he was a procurement officer before he quit to prepare for the BDP primaries.
Kabo Morwaeng who coordinated the weekend primaries told Mmegi that the polls were fair. Efforts to get a comment from the BDP leadership proved unsuccessful at the time of going to press. The party leadership was said to be in a meeting. Secretary General Mpho Balopi’s mobile phone rang unanswered. Gabotlale’s phone was out of reach yesterday when Mmegi sought his comment on the elections.