Francistowown South Bulela Ditswe Losers To Protest
Chakalisa Dube | Monday January 22, 2018 17:14
The weekend elections were won by Modiri Lucas, beating former legislator Khumongwana Maoto and former deputy mayor, Ladimo Dikomang. Lucas got 906 votes while Maoto managed 496 and Dikomang trailed third with 306. The losing candidates made their desire to protest known after the announcement of the official results at Montsamaisa secondary school. Although they did not elaborate, insisting that they did not want some details to be captured by the media, they both indicated that some candidates did not follow campaign rules and regulations. They did not name the candidates, but it was clear that they referred to Lucas.
“Some candidates even used newspapers to campaign for the elections which is very illegal,” Dikomang said.
In the build up to the elections, Lucas gave media interviews profiling him and highlighting his charity work in the constituency. The Monitor has it on good authority that both Maoto and Dikomang have always expressed strong reservations about Lucas’s interactions with the media. Last week they complained to the party that Lucas’s regular appearance in the media was a veiled campaign for the primaries. They also accused him of flouting some campaign procedures. That was after he gave yet another newspaper interview highlighting his political journey.
In an interview, Maoto confirmed that during his speech he was referring to Lucas. “Last week we (he and Dikomang) wrote to the party complaining about the conduct of Lucas in relation to campaigning for the primaries.
“The party is yet to respond to our complaints. I do not want to talk much about the matter in the media. By late tomorrow (Monday), I will have filed my protest with the party. I will also follow up the complaint letter we have submitted to the party,” Maoto said yesterday.
Lucas, who is said to be Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blue-eyed boy, was considered a political novice by many when he started showing interest in the contest. He however gained momentum when campaigns for the primaries were in full swing and he did not look back.
Traditionally, the BDP primaries in Francistown South are characterised by infighting and disorganisation that usually results in a wave of protests from candidates.
However, on Saturday the elections were held peaceful. In fact, Dikomang and Maoto’s assertions that they will protest primaries caught many by surprise. It was initially thought that there would be no protests from the candidates since the elections on the day went smoothly.
Lucas cut a diplomatic tone when addressing party members moments after he was declared the winner. He said that to the best of his knowledge he ran a clean campaign. He added that both Maoto and Dikomang also campaigned in a noble manner. BDP Francistown region chairperson, Baemedi Medupi said that the party would wait for official protests from the duo and deal with them.
He expressed happiness that the elections were conducted peacefully for the first time in many years.
In relation to a letter written by Maoto and Dikomang, Medupi said, “I have not been to the party office for some time, but I am aware that some primary election candidates from Francistown South recently (leading to the elections) wrote letters to the party complaining about the conduct of some candidates in relation to campaign activities. I assume that their letter is part of those letters.
“Complaints relating to elections are usually dealt with by the electoral board. We just receive copies of complaints letters for record keeping purposes”.