Makwinja Savours Sweet Victory
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday September 10, 2018 14:26
She did not give up and contested for primaries ahead of the 2019 polls in Lentsweletau-Mmopane against six men including the incumbent Vincent Seretse.
BDP primary elections were held a fortnight ago where she once again lost, this time around coming in second with 45 votes behind Seretse. She did not accept the results citing many irregularities. Lady luck was on her side, as unaccounted for used ballots were discovered, which made her appeal easy as a rerun was swiftly ordered by the party.
Just a week before the rerun, one of the contestants Chommie Letlole, who had garnered close to 800 votes, pulled out of the race to support Seretse. This did not deter Makwinja, as she came out even stronger to become the fourth woman to win in the BDP primaries.
Makwinja won the constituency with 2,665 votes tailed by Seretse who managed only 1,735 votes. Mogatusi Sebego received, 400 votes, Patrick Manthe, 269 votes, Bennedict Molefe, 145 votes, while only 52 people favoured Reuben Mokopaina.
All the losing candidates accepted the results save for Seretse who was nowhere to be seen when the results were announced. They praised the returning officer Douglas Letsholathebe and his team for a smooth election.
Makwinja could not hide her excitement also praising the election officers. “We are very happy at the way the elections were conducted. It was a good thing that a rerun was ordered and as it is, we can now move forward together as democrats,” she said.
Makwinja dedicated her win to empowering women. “This is a great victory for women in politics and anywhere else. Women should know that they can lead and should contest for positions. Wherever there is a woman, there is a way. We have seen how women who are in Parliament are doing well in their constituencies, I believe I will win the elections next year and add to their contributions,” she said. Seretse won the constituency in 2014 after defeating Moeng Pheto in the BDP primary elections. He had been a specially elected legislator from 2009.
The Infrastructure and Housing minister adds to the list of numerous other ministers who lost the primaries a fortnight ago. These include Shaw Kgathi, Nonofo Molefhi, Tshenolo Mabeo and Alfred Madigele amongst others.