UDC ropes Koontse into Central ward candidacy
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday July 30, 2019 15:30
Koontse replaces Kedumetse Tlangae. Tlangae quit as the candidate for Central ward a few weeks ago citing deepening tensions in his relationship with some key party members in Francistown East.
“Yes, we have confirmed Koontse as the candidate for Central ward. The confirmation was done during an internal meeting in Francistown East recently. He will be part of those who will be launched in Francistown East on Saturday,” BCP Francistown region chairperson Dingalo Ditsheko said yesterday.
Central ward falls within the Francistown East constituency.
Early this year Tlangae alleged that Francistown East constituency chairperson Kagiso Koontse was behind plans to recall him, for personal gain.
At the time there were reports that Koontse was interested in contesting the 2019 elections at Central ward, which is why he was fuelling efforts to topple Tlangae.
Tlangae raised allegations against Koontse after it emerged that a six-member committee in the Francistown East constituency led by the latter wrote a letter to Tlangae seeking to recall him as candidate for Central ward at the 2019 general elections.
The committee alleged that the youthful Tlangae is not the right person to defend the ward, as he is ‘grossly incompetent’.
The committee also alleged that it is inundated with complaints from members against Tlangae’s ‘poor performance in the ward’. Tlangae denied allegations levelled against him and maintained that Koontse is pursing his own agenda. Koontse also denied influencing efforts to recall Tlangae for personal gain.
Central ward has been in the hands of Ephraim Maiketso of the BCP for the last 10 years. The former Francistown mayor has decided not to contest the 2019 general elections.