No primaries for Ramotswa by-election
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday May 18, 2016 16:23
The ward fell vacant late last month after the incumbent, Molemi Rakgomo committed suicide.
Over the weekend the two political parties, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) made compromise decisions on their candidates and announced that there would not be holding primaries. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) this year signed an agreement with the BCP for by-election cooperation and will be supporting the party’s candidate.
BDP communications chairperson, Fish Pabalinga, said the branch had met its members at Kelemogile ward and proposed that the party should not hold a primary election.
“We are not having Bulela Ditswe and instead the region has come up with one name which has been sent to central committee. The region and branch met over the weekend after consultation with members, who are the ones who proposed that name,” Pabalinga said.
He said the name could only be released after the party central committee had approved it.
Pabalinga said members believe that Bulela Ditswe divide members and hinder the party’s chances of winning by-elections.
BCP vice president, Kesitegile Gobotswang, said his party had also agreed on one candidate, Seitiso Ditlhong, after she met all the requirements that were needed.
“We are not going for primary elections. The BCP had informed the members to submit their names for primaries but only one candidate did. The members feel that Ditlhong can represent the party well in this by-election.
“The party executive did not interfere with their decision in anyway. Ditlhong is from Kelemogile ward and I understand she has been working hard for the BCP to win the ward and the constituency,” Gobotswang said.
In the 2014 general elections, the BCP won the ward with 1,069, followed by the BDP with 550 and the UDC with 65.