De Graaf: �I�m going nowhere�
Leinanyana Tsiane | Thursday April 16, 2015 18:00
In an interview with Mmegi, De Graaf confirmed that indeed he has not been well but he has since got medical attention and feels much better.
There are some allegations that De Graaf is to retire due to ill- health and that there are a number of people from different political parties who, should he retire, are gearing themselves for the Ghantsi South constituency.
“All that is not true I am doing just fine and have no reason to retire or quit before my five-year term. I am going to finish my term, so there is nothing like that,” De Graaf said.
One members of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) rumoured to be positioning himself, and even campaigning for the Ghantsi South constituency with the hope that there will be a bye-election soon is former Ghantsi North MP, Johnnie Swartz.
However Swartz vehemently denied and swore that the allegations were unfounded as he said he has no intention of going back to active politics. He said he had served his terms and time as a MP for Ghantsi North.“I don’t and won’t contest for Ghantsi South even if De Graaf retires tomorrow. It is not true that it is my intention to do so.
“I made it clear even at my farewell party that it’s time for me to rest. I have been in politics for more than 35 years which is quite a long time,” Swartz said.
Swartz lost Ghantsi North constituency to Noah Salakae of Umbrella for Democratic Change in last year’s general elections.