UB-UDC Gives 'Signal' For Gaborone Central
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday April 30, 2018 13:06
UDC-UB had been dominating the UB elections until recently when Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) GS-26 started winning some of the most critical positions including the presidency.
Though they staged an expensive campaign also inviting prominent members of the party to help in the campaign, GS-26 failed to attract enough voters to increase their gains or at least defend some seats. UDC leaders including president Duma Boko were also visible at the institution. Worst performers in the elections were Alliance for Progressives’ (AP) UB Progressives who could not manage to garner a thousand mark for any of their candidate. With their large number, the UDC elections can show which party is likely to win Gaborone Central constituency. AP’s Phenyo Butale, who won it through the UDC ticket in 2014, currently holds the constituency.
It was through the SRC elections that the UDC secretary general, Moeti Mohwasa predicted that they would win Gaborone Central from the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) elections in 2014. Prior to the elections, the UDC won all 13 seats. They then went on to win the constituency with Butale. Since then, UDC and BCP shared seats in the SRC.
AP’s poor performance at the UB election suggests that Butale will have an uphill battle in retaining his seat. Butale has vowed before that he would not mind losing the constituency for standing for what he believes in. He said he would not be a part of UDC with Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) having Sidney Pilane for a president.
Gaborone Mayor, also area councillor, Kagiso Thutlwe expressed delight at the results and said he would support the youth in their quest to get better education.
“I am happy we won all the seats. I am going to work with the students and other leaders to advocate for better living (standards) for students. We will advocate for issues such as welfare. I trust with Mpho Molokwane as their president we will achieve all we want with some of our leaders who are former students here at the University,” he said.
Thutlwe said they would take the student leaders to a retreat to equip them with skills they need to be able to deliver on their mandate.