BDP Wins Rasesa Ward
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 13, 2017 14:46
It is alleged that Buisanyang owes many people in the village and some party members, which could have contributed to his loss.
Although he reduced the 2014 margin from 376 to over 100, it is said that some people rejected him because of this issue. Buisanyang was expected to win, as opposition numbers combined were more than that of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The council vacancy fell vacant after the death of the area councillor Seasebeng Monyake due to a car accident last year.
Rasesa ward has been one of the BDP strong holds in the Mochudi West constituency. The BDP garnered 664 votes to the BCP’s 541 with four votes spoiled.
“It was not easy on the ground during the campaigns, thanks to my hard working campaign team. The campaign team was merely people from this region. What made things easy for us was that the BCP candidate owes people in the village including his party members and family members. That worked for me,” BDP candidate Daniel Molokwe said in an interview.
Molokwe said if Buisanyang could have cooperated with his family members and some of his party members then his party could have easily made it.
He continued: “This was a tight race. I was not born in Rasesa and my family relocated here when I was doing Form One. Rasesa people know me because of my involvement in community activities which I participate in. That alone could have worked against me but people had trust and hope that I could listen to them”.
However the BCP former election officer and councillor Stephen Makhura said as the BCP they accept the results and learnt a lot from the by-election.
“Our partners helped us a lot in this by-election and even in the campaigns. It is true that there were complaints from some residents about our candidate but we cannot comment on them. The party will make a proper report on what could have happened to lose the by-election. But our party has managed to reduce the margin compared to the 2014 figures,” Makhura said.