Mohwasa emerges victorious after tense recount
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday July 21, 2016 09:59
The position of secretary general was the highlight of the elections as it is one of the most influential positions in the party.
Mohwasa has served the BNF as spokesperson under former BNF president Otsweletse Moupo and current president Duma Boko.
The BNF firebrand had to contend with three rounds of counting before he was announced the winner with a small margin of eight votes. In the first count, Mohwasa appeared destined for a humiliating loss and his sorrowful facial expression even suggested that he was certain that he has lost the elections.
Mohwasa was hanging by a thread as all other positions had gone to the rival team led by the new vice president, Prince Moiseraele Dibeela.
Of the 10 central committee positions under contention, Mohwasa was the only winner in his lobby group, which was headed by Mohammed Khan, who lost by a 200 margin to Dibeela for VP.It was an observant Khan who noticed that a significant portion of Mohwasa’s votes had been mistakenly credited to Nthaile.
A recount was ordered and this time a mistake during the counting process revealed that the figures did not tally. A third recount was ordered and a nervous looking Mohwasa was declared the winner by 439 to Nthaile’s 431 votes. There were ballot papers, which were said to have been astray but belonged to the position of secretary general, almost throwing the counting hall into chaos as some members engaged in a verbal war, which nearly resulted into a fistfight.
Those who were in support of Nthaile felt that the ballots should be counted while Mohwasa’s team were of the view that the 20 ballots should be treated as spoilt votes because there was no initial agreement as to how stray votes would be treated.
Despite the disapproval of some members it was eventually agreed that the votes would not be counted. wYesterday Nthaile said that he is happy with the outcome of the elections.
“I feel that the elections were fair despite some errors during the election process. What I have to do now is to support the new party executive committee,” said Nthaile in his short response.
Mohwasa shared Nthaile’s sentiments. The elections board secretary Tshepiso Keitire said that BNF members should not read much into what transpired during the counting of the position of secretary general especially the initial and second counting process.
“The mistakes we made during the two counting processes were a result of a lapse in concentration and I am glad that they were effectively resolved. We were not targeting any of the candidates,” she said.
President (unopposed): Duma Gideon Boko
Vice President: Prince Moiseraela Dibeela beat Mohammed Khan
Secretary General: Moeti Mohwasa beat Shawn Nthaile
Deputy Secretary General (unopposed): Shampoo Shadikong-Matshidiso
Treasurer: Noah Salakae swept past the incumbent Aubrey Lesaso and Mantimane
Chairperson: Abigail Mogalakwe beat the duo of former SG Tapiso Kgosikoma and Moses Bantsi
Publicity Secretary: Justin Hunyepa beat Gomolemo Kemotho
Secretary for International Affairs: Nelson Ramaotwana brought down the incumbent Kwenantle Gaseitsewe
National Organiser: Tona Mooketsi beat the duo of Mokgweetsi Kgosipula and Joel Phalaagae
Economic Affairs: Peter Powell defeated Samson Moses
Secretary for Political Education: Elmon ‘Cde Moore’ Tafa emerged victorious against Sam Digwa and Mannesi Basimane
Secretary for Labour: Eitlhopha Mokeresete brought down the duo of Ramontsho and Lentsikame
Secretary for Health (unopposed): Castro Lekobe