Reikeletseng agrees to contest BDP primaries
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday January 26, 2017 15:37
Mmegi has established that some members of the BDP in Francistown South met Reikeletseng during the festive season where the latter agreed to contest the primaries billed for October this year.
However Mmegi has also established that despite his stance, the BNSC chairperson requested that he be given time to weigh up options before making a final decision.
Reikeletseng recently confirmed the festive season meeting, but declined to comment on what was discussed.
The BNSC leader was expected to meet the BDP members in the constituency last weekend, but the meeting has been re-scheduled for the coming weekend. Those closer to events have indicated that Reikeletseng is set to confirm his candidature at the forthcoming meeting. Early this week Reikeletseng confirmed that he will meet BDP activists in the constituency this weekend but declined to share more details. “I will open up about my meetings with BDP members at the right time,” he said on Monday.
He also denied widespread talk that he has agreed in principle to contest the BDP primaries in order to book candidacy at the 2019 general elections.
Should he win the candidacy, he will face the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s Wynter Mmolotsi who is the incumbent.
This publication has also established that a group of BDP activists in Francistown South have also started a campaign to lobby some party members to back Reikeletseng’s bid. One activist, Jabulani Makhiya, leads the campaign. BDP Francistown South branch chairperson Ford Moiteela is also reported to be among those backing Reikeletseng but he has denied the reports.
Yesterday Makhiya said: “We believe that Reikeletseng is a suitable candidate for the constituency. That is why we have been lobbying him to contest for the party primaries. We have also been on the ground lobbying people to support his bid”.
Makhiya also confirmed that he was among those who met Reikeletseng during the festive season, but would not deny or confirm that Reikeletseng has agreed in principle to challenge the primaries.
Should Reikeletseng choose to challenge the BDP primaries, he will likely face outgoing BDP youth wing chair Andy Boatile, nominated councillor Zazambi Tuelo and former Francistown South MP Khumongwana Maoto.
Maoto lost to Mmolotsi at the BDP primaries leading to the 2009 general elections.
The BNSC chairperson is viewed as one of the strong challengers.
BDP Francistown South secretary Modiri Lucas has also emerged as one of the potential candidates for the primaries. He told Mmegi that he was still consulting his constituents and family before he could make the final decision.