Nkate ropes in VP Merafhe to capture Ngami voters

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Friday September 4, 2009 00:00

 

Nkate, who is also the Minister of Education and Skills Development, is facing stiff challenge from the combined force of the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) who are fielding Taolo Habano, who lost (to Nkate) in the 2004 general election.

In the quest to win the hearts and minds of the Ngami electorate, Nkate has planned four-star rallies, all to be officiated by VP Merafhe in the run-up to next month's general election.

Merafhe will on September 12 officiate at a BDP rally at Tsau village in the morning. In the afternoon, he will travel to Sehithwa for another star rally. On Sunday, Merafhe will be in Nokaneng village and set off for Gumare on the last leg of his marathon rallies in the Ngami constituency.

Nkate says he intends to hold more of these star rallies where BDP luminaries will be officiating. He said the number of eligible voters in the constituency has grown by 6,000, from 12, 000 in 2004 to 18, 000, and he intends to cash in on the boom.

'It's hard. These guys, BCP and BAM, have ganged up against us. But I really want to win. I want to take a majority of these 6,000 people who are mostly youth.

I intend to hold more rallies and bring music groups here to come and entertain, especially the youth,' he said.