No Bulela Ditswe in opposition held constituencies
Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday September 19, 2017 18:00
He said some of the affected areas are Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Kanye South and Gaborone North constituency, which are currently held by Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Balopi explained that the ruling party is in the process of counselling BDP members who had shown interest in contesting for the primary elections in such constituencies.
He sid a press conference will be called soon to reveal the constituencies and the names of candidates who will represent the party in the 2019 general elections.
He said currently, President Ian Khama is touring 14 regions around the country to strengthen party structures and Jwaneng/Mabutsane, which has been opposition’s stronghold for a long time, is one their targets.
Balopi could not confirm nor deny allegations that specially elected Member of Parliament (MP) Mephato Reatile was the preferred candidate as opposed to the former Mayor, Amos Jahana who had also shown interest in contesting. Reatile was elected the area MP for Jwaneng/Mabutsane in 2009 under Botswana National Front (BNF) ticket, but he later defected to BDP and lost to UDC’s Shawn Nthaile in the 2014 general elections.
The Jwaneng Council is under the opposition with six councillors from UDC and one elected from BDP and two specially elected councillors. As it stands, Balopi is unfazed by the current state but, he is quick to point that BDP is ready to fight for the constituency
With the general elections in two years, Balopi said the recruitment drive from opposition parties continues, especially in opposition’s strongholds.
Turning his gun on the UDC, Balopi said they “condemn opposition party’s wars and fights and we call upon them to solve their misunderstandings and meet us on board to advise each other accordingly and represent the interests of Batswana.
We plead for peace and we are ready to accommodate them. We will however not tolerate bullying in politics”. On other issues, Balopi said they are readying for the Tshimoyapula/Majwanaadipitse council by-election, which will be held on October 7, 2017 in the Serowe South constituency. He said they are optimistic of victory.