Parties name candidates for Ralekgetho by-election

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday February 20, 2018 16:29

 

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Slumber Tsogwane announced the writ for the by-election on Friday.

The post for the council ward became vacant after the area councillor Gofentseone Rakala died after short illness.

Omphile Motlhajoe will represent the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) while Johnson Mmare will represent the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

Only Alliance for Progressives (AP) has not released the name of its candidate. The AP national organising secretary Fredraick Kololo however said they are also contesting.

“The AP will be contesting and the name of our candidate will be released on Saturday after our National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. On that same day, we will be launching our candidate in the area,” Kololo said.

Before his demise Rakala was a dedicated long serving member of the BDP.

During the 2014 general elections, Rakala won the seat with 291 against the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) candidates who got 270 and 218 votes respectively.

The BCP is now UDC affiliate. Moshupa/Manyana is a BDP stronghold as it has won all the seven wards in the constituency.