Tlou beats Hobona for BCP regional chair

Pini Bothoko | Tuesday July 14, 2015 14:54

Tlou narrowly beat former Francistown West MP, Dr Habaudi Hobona over the weekend. He garnered 55 votes against Hobona’s 51.

The region consists of Francistown East, West, South, and Tati East, West and Tonota constituecies.

The seat was formerly held by Samuel Moribame who declared unavailability to give way to other activists.

Elias Mbonini was elected vice chairperson with 66 votes, beating Justin Mogapi who got 32 votes. The position of secretary was won by Smart Shabani with 80 votes over the youthful Gift Keaitse who got 26 votes after he emerged from the floor to oppose him (Shabani).

The vice secretary position went to Masego Lejowa who was unopposed, as was Baathodi Monyatsi, who is the treasurer.

After the announcement, Hobona said despite the loss, she remained confident about her political career. She also vowed to continue working hard to re-build the party towards the 2019 general elections.

“I might have lost the regional elections but it does not mean that is the end of the road for my political career.  With the new committee on board I will offer them my assistance to attract more members into the party,” said Hobona.

For his part Tlou, said BCP needs to re-brand if it wants to remain relevant to the diverse electorates.

Tlou promised to set up new party structures and resuscitate those that were not functioning at optimal levels and to attract new members to the party.

He also vowed to attract the youth into the party, as he would be targeting senior schools tertiary schools in Francistown.

He said he planned to set up a council of elders committee to advise the party on pertinent issues.

“BCP has a lot of intellectual people who have retired from activism and can be engaged to win the battle of re-branding the party, “ said Tlou.