Letlole Out Of Lentsweletau-Mmopane Race
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday September 3, 2018 18:00
The incumbent’s narrow win was short-lived last weekend after used ballot papers were discovered in a dustbin and others in a large shopping bag after results were announced.
Seretse won the polls with 1,514 votes against Magatusi Sebego’s 227, Letlole’s 779, Patrick Manthe’s 165, Nnaniki Makwinja’s 1,469, Reuben Mokopaina’s 171 and Bennedict Molefe’s 215 votes.
Letlole was Seretse’s campaign manager in 2014 and was rewarded with a job as office administrator at the legislator’s office. Letlole then parted ways with Seretse, only to return and challenge him for the parliamentary seat.
“I have decided to put the party first and sit back to encourage peace. I have consulted with those who followed me and we agreed that we would back Seretse who has been the area legislator,” Letlole said.
He had accepted the results after Seretse was announced the winner last week. According to sources, Seretse is likely to battle it out with only Makwinja and Sebego as other candidates contemplate to pull out of the race. Makwinja had not accepted the results complaining that there could have been irregularities.
BDP Electoral Board chairperson, Peter Siele said in an interview that they have decided that there should be a re-run as there were irregularities. “The report that we got from the returning officer was incomplete. There were also reports of irregularities as some used ballots and other materials were retrieved from places they were not supposed to be,” he said.
Siele said they have not found any candidate to be at fault for the mess and that all the candidates would be allowed to contest. The re-run will take place on Saturday.