No love lost in the BDP primaries
Chakalisa Dube | Friday January 19, 2018 16:37
The majority of the candidates in the internal ruling party contests this weekend would need a lot of time and resources to convince voters to take them to Parliament. This is because many are newbies and the rest have been rejected at the polls before. This is the Mmegi assessment of the strength of the parliamentary hopefuls in each of the 10 constituencies.
Mogoditshane
Mogoditshane has been making news with front-runners Tshephang Mabaila and Kgang Kgang at each other’s throats trading accusations of election malpractice. Also contesting is Patrick Masimolole who was the area MP until he was ousted in 2014. Baolwetse Olesitse and Tshiamo (whose initials even the BDP have time and again failed to provide) are the dark horses in this race. Mogoditshane voters, like those in Mochudi has a reputation of changing between the ruling and the opposition.
The opposition Botswana National Front, under Mokgweetsi Kgosipula grabbed it from the current MP’s late father, George Kgoroba. Kgosipula, who defected with the seat to Botswana Congress Party, lost it back to the BDP in 1999, with Masimolole, who held it for 15 years until being dethroned by Sedirwa Kgoroba, who was now in the opposition coalition of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in 2014.
Former radioman Masimolole is once trying his luck but pundits say Mabaila has the upper hand. There may be surprises though.
Molepolole South
Kabo Morwaeng and Shima Monageng have lost to veteran Daniel Kwelagobe before. There will therefore be no love lost in this particular race. The duo will definitely fight from all fronts to win the party ticket after years of failure. It may go either side. They unfortunately face off at a time when residents are rising against the ruling party’s failure to provide them with water. Dr Tlamelo Mmatli of the UDC, who surprised many grabbing the constituency from strongman Kwelagobe in 2014, has been vocal in issues affecting the village and is set to defend it in 2019. The winner of the BDP ticket has a huge task of convincing the voters that they can turn around Molepolole’s fortunes after Kwelagobe failed for four decades.
Molepolole North
Another rejected former MP, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri will try to win back the constituency he lost to the UDC in 2014. He however, has to first defeat little known Botsalo Rabogadi and Oarabile Ragoeng who have tried their luck before but lost. Just like their counterparts in the south, they face a much stronger UDC and owe residents answers on why their village is lagging behind in developments while their party is ruling. Ragoeng is the favourite to win it. Campaigns here have however, been mired in controversy after a group was accused of registration fraud last June which resulted in the sacking of the party official. The battle is very open.
Gabane-Mankgodi
Kagiso Mmusi who lost to Pius Mokgware of the UDC looks set to win the primaries by virtue of his experience. He faces Phillip Mokento, Joseph Makati and Pius Ntwayagae. The BDP stands a good chance to win the constituency back in 2019 as the UDC was left weaker by Mokgware’s departure to the new party, Alliance for Progressives. However, it will not be easy as the BCP also brings numbers to the UDC leaving the race wide open for a perfect three-horse race.
Ramotswa
With Balete at war with the government over their land, Lentswe Monare and Lefoko Moagi would seem to be wasting their time. The two face-off for the party ticket with an endeavour to win back the constituency into the BDP fold. Little is known about the duo. This might be a difficult constituency for the BDP but the fact that the party once controlled it, shows that it may remain winnable. This has given the two contestants hope that by winning the BDP ticket it may help them win. Like in many constituencies, UDC and BCP numbers combined tend to leave the BDP contest more like an academic exercise.
Mochudi West
Mmusi Kgafela was recruited into the BDP with a sole purpose of letting his royal blood help the party redeem itself in Kgatleng. He however, has to defeat former newspaper editor Batlhalefi Leagajang over the weekend. Though he is likely to win it, Kgafela will have a huge task of defeating opposition parties, which have since joined forces. Leagajang might not be from the royal house, but has seemingly built his strong support base and as such his chances are not remote at all. The UDC and the BCP have taken the constituency far from the BDP reach meaning that whoever wins the BDP primaries will need to work very hard to wrestle the constituency from Gilbert Mangole.
Bonnington South
Christian Nthuba finally has his shot at representing his party after he was suspended before he could take on Botsalo Ntuane in the build up to the 2014 general elections. Nthuba will have to defeat Pelonomi Bantsi in order to secure candidacy for the general elections. Whilst Nthuba has an upper hand Bantsi will give him a run for his money.
Francistown South
Former MP, Khumongwana Maoto, Modiri Lucas and Ladimo Dikomang will contest the primaries in the constituency. There is however, still a debate pertaining to their ability to tackle a maverick politician like Wynter Mmolotsi at the general elections. There is a perception that Maoto who lost to Mmolotsi at the BDP primaries leading to the 2009 general elections is a spent force. Maoto was Francistown South MP until he lost the primaries to Mmolotsi. Former deputy mayor, Dikomang has been in the political wilderness. Lucas is considered a novice having joined active politics a few years ago. His association with the Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi has helped raise his credentials as a politician. He has even hosted Masisi’s ‘Camp Dubai’ during the last July BDP congress in Tonota. Of the three contestants Lucas has been the most visible which is why he is likely to get the nod.
Ghanzi North
Former journalist and television presenter Gregory Losibe will battle it out with Johane Thiite. Thiite is relatively unknown in the political cycles. In 2013, Losibe contested parliamentary primary elections and lost to veteran politician Christian De Graaf who quits politics next year. The fact that he has been there before might work in his favour. He already knows the dynamics of contesting for an election. He is also a nominated councillor and he is currently the deputy chairperson for the Ghanzi council. It is inevitable that he might have used the position to improve his visibility.