Matante East by-election gets dirty

Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday March 9, 2016 17:51

Nyeku, who is the younger brother to the late former Phillip Matante East councillor Shadreck Nyeku, has been accused by rival camps of using a bus belonging to the party to do house-to-house campaigns. Other candidates use their resources in the campaign.

The BMD, a partner party in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), will hold the primaries in the ward this Saturday.

However, Nyeku has dismissed the allegations saying that his accusers are trying to sway voters into their camps. Two of the three candidates, Lillian Griesmier and Omphile Mazebedi, on Monday night allegedly penned a letter to the party’s Francistown region complaining about Nyeku’s conduct.  Griesmier confirmed that a letter has been written to the party complaining about Nyeku’s conduct. She however referred further inquiries to the regional leadership saying she does not have the liberty to discuss party matters in public. Mazebedi declined to comment. News that Nyeku has been using the bus to campaign has been circulating on social media and in a Whatsapp group created by one of the party cadres. However, when contacted for comment, Nyeku offered a different version to that of his accusers.

“The bus is in the custody of the Member of Parliament, Wynter Mmolotsi and I am the one who is supposed to drive it.”

“I only drove it briefly on Sunday and returned it to the MP’s home. I drove it because its engine has not been running for two weeks, which is not good for a vehicle. It is unfortunate that some interpreted my actions in a different way.”  The BMD Francistown region secretary, Gaone Lewanika, told Mmegi that the regional leadership is yet to receive the complaint letter from the aggrieved candidates. “I am however aware that they have written a complaint letter. Once we have received it we will take appropriate action.

“Each election has its own challenges but we will make sure we deal with our problems effectively,” said Lewanika.