Tlokweng releases first blow in BNF women representation
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday June 27, 2018 10:11
Hope seem to diminish last weekend during the Botswana National Front (BNF) primary elections which saw the first set of women candidates, who also happen to be sitting councillors losing.
The Tlokweng constituency, at which in the 2014 elections, BNF had strong women representation led by the party vice president and MP, the late Same Bathobakae has had the first blow of loss of women at the polls. After the weekend primaries, BNF will be represented by only by men in the constituency.
Councillor Norah Nkwe of Old Kgosing lost, gaining 159 votes to 246 of Mothusi Seakgosing. In Masetlheng ward, Kagiso Lopang, with 157 votes, beat two councillors. Women’s hope, nominated councillor Kedibonye Phuthologang came second with 139 votes, while Justice Sera managed only 80 votes.
In other results in Tlokweng, sitting councillor of Khaekholo ward, Sello Seitshiro won by 129 votes, beating Thato Pule who got 71. The area MP Masego Segokgo got 908 defeating Letshwiti Tutwane who got only 157 votes.
Regarding the loss of two women councillors in the first lot of the BNF primaries for 2019 general election, the party’s women’s league president Dorcas Mothusi said they are worried that women representation is declining even in council.
“We met as women youth league on Sunday and our intention is to bring a motion to the coming conference for women representation to be discussed. Our committee is newly elected and we want to urge our party to consider women in leadership positions,” Mothusi said.