Butale, Masire lead UDC race
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 19, 2014 11:49
The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) chairperson Nehemiah Modubule recently stated that president of Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) Andrew Motsamai will not be fielded as the UDC candidate in Gaborone Central. Modubule disclosed that Motsamai was amongst the preferred individuals but not the select candidate.
“We had approached Motsamai to be our candidate but he turned us down stating that he is still a public servant. There were eight names proposed and his (Motsamai) was among the three favored ones.
“The party will approach two other people on the list,” he said. Modubule pointed out that it is wrong for media to speculate that Motsamai has pulled out of the race when he was never confirmed as a candidate, adding that they hope to resolve the candidacy issue in the next two weeks. Mmegi has since established that the BMD youth league rejected Motsamai’s candidacy proposal as they perceive him as a weak candidate.
The two other preferred candidates are media giant Butale, seconded by businessman Masire, who is the son of former president Sir Ketumile Masire. Butale, a former Department of Broadcasting journalist who has worked as national director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and is currently executive director of the Freedom of Expression Institute in South Africa, is expected to respond to the proposal today.
The UDC is working around the clock to replace the parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central following the death of Gomolemo Motswaledi.