BDP anoints Gaborone for Tlokweng
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday June 12, 2014 06:00
In a letter to the embattled Katse and three council candidates, explaining why they were withdrawn from contesting in the October general elections, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Mpho Balopi states that the central committee decided Gaborone should represent the party as there was no time for primaries re-run.
The letter, dated June 9, was addressed to Katse and the three disqualified council candidates – Tidimalo Matlhotse, Stella Matlapeng and Amantle Matlapeng.
Balopi writes that the central committee meeting of June 2, agreed that sufficient grounds have been established to have them recalled and disqualified from standing.
“The central committee has accepted the recommendation that ordinarily the only way to cure all the irregularities would be to start the primary election process beginning with voter registration in respect of the parliamentary candidates and the council candidates in the affected ward,” Balopi writes.
He however states that with the general elections fast approaching, there was insufficient time for the entire primary election process to start and to be completed within this time frame. Hence the leadership nominated Gaborone to contest the elections.
In addition the central committee made recommendations that the recalled candidates should desist from any conduct which may undermine party unity in Tlokweng constituency and they are required to take steps which actively demonstrate their support for all the BDP candidates, including the new council candidates and parliamentary candidate.
They were also asked to further indicate their acceptance and waiver in writing of any rights they may have to challenge the decisions of the central committee in question, including but not limited to any litigation as may be contemplated by them before any courts of law.