BDP hopefuls submit names
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday June 23, 2017 15:33
The primaries have attracted both the old and the youth for MP seats. Other names that are also mentioned are some of the former MPs who lost in 2014 general elections. Even though the objective of the BDP is to start early primaries to campaign well in the constituencies and counsel those who might have lost, this time around the game might be different. Submissions of names will be done next week Wednesday.
Mogoditshane
Tshepang Mabaila
He recently joined BDP after retiring from civil service. Mabaila grew up in Mogoditshane and has a home there.
“I cannot comment on the matter now. Our party has not yet allowed us to campaign or talk to the media,” he said.
Kgang Kgang
He joined BDP in 1987. He served his party in different structures including Kweneng region where he was a regional secretary for 12 years, deputy secretary for four years and secretary for labour committee for 10 years.
“It is true I have interest to contest in the primaries and some people in the area have asked me to join the race,” Kgang said.
Patrick Masimolole
He is the former MP for the area. His name and family is known in Mogoditshane. He also served in different party structures and as an assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development. He was the MP for the area from 2004 to 2014 when he lost to UDC’s Sedirwa Kgoroba. “I am in a meeting which I don’t know when it will end. I will talk to the media when the time is right,” Masimolole said.
Goodhope/Mabule
Fankie Motsaathebe
He is the former chairperson of BDP national youth executive committee (NYEC). In the last by-election in 2015 for Goodhope/Mabule, five contested for primaries after area MP, James Mathokgwane resigned. These are Kopo Mononi, Phillip Sebakile, Tony Mogatle, Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration minister, Eric Molale and Motsaathebe. The four, except Molale, engaged in unity talks to unify the constituency behind one person. It is understood that the four have resolved to rally behind Motsaathebe in the coming primaries.
Eric Molale
He resigned from civil service in 2015 to join active politics. Immediately after his resignation he stood for party primaries and won. He lost to opposition party Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). He was then made specially elected MP. Molale has never given up after his loss, he continued holding party activities in the area and donating where he feels there is need. Efforts to get hold of Molale were unsuccessful.
The other constituencies where campaigns are said to have gained strong momentum on the ground include Gaborone South and Nata/Gweta. Although their submissions of names will be done next year, people on the ground have names of those whom they want to represent their constituencies.
Gaborone South
Meshack Mthimkhulu
Gaborone South residents regard Mthimkhulu as one of their own and this was shown by the numbers he got when contesting for general elections as independent candidate. He was voted by over 1,400 votes. Even if he is new in the BDP, as he defected from Botswana National Front, he might give current MP Patrick Molatlhegi a tight competition. “I cannot comment on the matter until the day of the submission of names is announced,” he said.
Patrick Molatlhegi
He is the current MP for the area and also Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He served in different party structures. “Of course I will defend my seat when the right time comes,” he said.
Nata/Gweta
Lawrence Ookeditse
He was a member of the BDP communication sub committee before he joined civil service. Ookeditse is alleged to have the intention to resign and go back to politics at the end of this year. Of recent, sources say he has been secretly doing groundwork in the area. He could not be reached for a comment.
Paulson Majaga
He is the current MP for the area and has long been a known councillor for Dukwi ward for ye