Maoto launches bid to return to Parley
Chakalisa Dube | Friday December 16, 2016 16:12
Maoto, who has been in the political wilderness for seven years, has confirmed that he will challenge the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections in Francistown South next year. Maoto’s confirmation end days of widespread speculation that he wants to launch another bid to go back to the National Assembly.
“Yes, I am available for the primaries. I still have unfinished business in Parliament,” Maoto said yesterday in an interview with Mmegi. He said he could not discuss in detail his desire to contest the primaries because the party is yet to invite those interested in the primaries to apply.
Maoto lost the BDP primaries against the then unheralded Wynter Mmolotsi leading to the 2009 general elections before the latter left the ruling party to form the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) along with others. He protested his brutal loss to Mmolotsi, but the appeal was shredded away by the BDP leadership.
Since then, Maoto has been less active in the political scene.
“I did not challenge the primaries in the build-up to the 2014 general elections owing to personal commitments. I communicated that (his unavailability) to my constituents. I have relatively been taking part in party activities although there is a perception that I was not that active,” Maoto said.
Maoto served as Francistown South MP for a single term from 2004 to 2009.
In his bid to return to Parliament, Maoto will most likely face specially nominated councillors Zazambi Tuelo and Andy Boatile in the battle for the party ticket. Boatile confirmed yesterday that he intends to challenge the Francistown South BDP primaries next year.
Tuelo, whose relocation from Francistown West to Francistown South was subject to controversy in a previous interview, indicated that he is still undecided on his candidature, though his handlers maintain the contrary. His inner circles have indicated that the youthful politician has already started positioning himself for the primaries.
The number of challengers at the BDP primaries is likely to swell as indications are that the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) chairperson Solly Reikeletseng is also interested in contesting the Francistown South primaries. Reikeletseng indicated in a recent interview with Mmegi’s sister publication The Monitor that there are some BDP members within Francistown South who want him to challenge for the primaries.
Reikeletseng said he will make a public announcement after careful consideration. Francistown mayor and former District Commissioner (DC) Sylvia Muzila has indicated that she will not challenge the primaries in Francistown.
“I believe that by 2019 I will have done my part and have to give way to others. I will however continue participating in other party activities,” said Muzila.
The BDP will hold early primaries in all the constituencies it has lost in the 2014 general elections. The party believes that holding the primaries early will help it adequately prepare to claim the lost constituencies from the opposition.