Molatlhegi tipped as next Speaker
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday February 16, 2018 15:22
Mmegi has learnt that Molatlhegi has agreed to pave the way for Meshack Mthimkhulu.
Both Mthimkhulu and Molatlhegi had shown initial interest in contesting in the BDP primaries. This will be the last lap for the party’s primary election.
Mmegi has it on good authority that a deal was struck amongst the candidates to reach a consensus.
The BDP believes that it could retain the constituency if it has a consensus candidate.
Gaborone constituencies have been opposition strongholds and that has given the BDP sleepless nights.
Mthimkhulu is not new to politics since he defected from the Botswana National Front (BNF) after he was expelled from the party.
In 2014 he contested independently and later joined the BDP. Mthimkhulu is well known in Gaborone South, especially at Old Naledi.
According to sources, one of the agreements was that Molatlhegi will be appointed the Speaker of the National Assembly in 2019.
The incumbent National Speaker, Gladys Kokorwe’s term comes to an end in 2019 and she has since indicated that she does not want to retain the position.
“It is true I won’t be contesting in the coming party primary elections. I had an agreement with my family that I should run for two terms. Other democrats will take over from where I left off. Submissions of names for party primary elections for the second lap have not yet been done. I would not know the names of people who will be contesting. New people with fresh ideas should come and take over from where I left,” Molatlhegi said.
On the issue of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Molatlhegi said the issue is new to him. “I won’t predict what will happen in 2019. If the democrats find it fit to give me the post, they will be most welcome and it will be a blessing.”
Molatlhegi has been a deputy speaker since 2014.
He won the Gaborone South constituency in 2014 with 3,872 votes, followed by Murray Dipate of the Umbrella for Democratic Change with 3,629, Akanyang Magama of Botswana Congress Party with 2,318 and Mthimkhulu with 1,475 votes.