BCP mulls Goodhope/Mabule poser
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday June 9, 2015 15:29
The constituency fell vacant recently after James Mathokgwane of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) resigned. He has since taken up a position at SPEDU, the regional development agency for Selebi Phikwe.
Yesterday, BCP secretary general, Kesitegile Gobotswang told Mmegi that the executive committee would rely on the decision taken by the party’s local structure.
“Our local structure, which is the Southern Region, will meet on June 13 to discuss the issue and others concerning the congress,” he said. “We expect them to advise the party executive accordingly and thereafter the party executive will take the decision on behalf of the central committee.”
He said the party executive committee’s June 18 meeting would be the final decider. “The reasons that will be given by Southern Region on whether or not to contest will be taken into consideration,” he said.
Gobotswang said the BCP needs a well-resourced candidate for the constituency who will be able to adequately compete for the seat. At least seven Botswana Democratic Party hopefuls have thrown their names in the hat for the seat, while the UDC is also due to unveil its own candidates.
“The party does not have enough resources. A candidate should have a certain amount of resources and the region should be able to help him too. The party will help on what the structure and the candidate have,” he said.
The party’s secretary general said consideration would also be given to how the BCP performed in the area during the 2014 general elections. “It should be understood that this issue is very different from Bokone ward in Mochudi West because there the party stood a chance when numbers were taken into consideration unlike this one.
“There would be no need to contest if we won’t make an impact. We are going to look at all important factors before we arrive at a conclusion,” Gobotswang said.
The constituency has historically been dominated by the BDP with Mathokgwane’s victory last year being the first by an opposition party. Last week, the BCP’s youth league had announced that the general consensus within the region was that the party should field a candidate.
Party president, Dumelang Saleshando has also been quoted as saying should the BCP sit out the by-election, it would encourage its members to support the UDC.