BDP losers petition Molao's win

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday July 27, 2010 00:00

 

The petitioners who lost the weekend primaries are Olifant Mfa, Lewis Malikongwa, Molomo Ali Maano, Ipuseng Chikanda and Onkabetse Daniel.

Molao was declared the winner after garnering 778 votes, followed by little known Daniel who was voted by 534 people. Malikongwa came third with 521 votes followed by Mfa with 379 votes and Chikanda (355) and Maano (308). After the primaries, Daniel indicated that as far as he is concerned, the result does not reflect the voting pattern of the BDP members.

'Look, the results poured in from the polling stations and we assembled at the counting centre to merely verify what we already had. We were only shocked to note that the final results differed completely from what we already had,' declared a worried Daniel.

He added that if there was any winner then it was him. 'Everybody knew I was the winner given the figures we got from the polling stations. What could have changed the figures at the counting centre?' he wondered.

'Now that the votes have been fiddled with, it is in our best interest to have the counting redone hence our petition of the results,' he added. He has submitted a petition signed by all the five losers. 'If people who did the counting did not deliberately cheat, then it means they had difficulty dealing with the numbers.' He said he won the weekend polls with 573 votes followed by Malikongwa who got 537 and Molao with 470. 'At some of the big polling stations at Mabesekwa, Mokubilo and Sebina, I won by big margins, while Molao won Mathangwane and Borolong through slim margins. These people must give Caesar what belongs to him,' Daniel pleaded.

Malikongwa who preferred to be diplomatic said: 'This time, I am unable to talk to the media about the results of the weekend primaries. The results were announced officially but whether I accept the results or not, is a matter that is being handled by the party'.

Another loser Maano indicated that he is part of those who have petitioned for a recount. 'We expected a recount to be done at the counting centre but that was not the case. Things did not go well as people were allowed to vote from more than one polling station,' he asserted.

He was concerned that in Mathangwane, the voters' rolls were fiddled with, which denied a good number of people their rights to vote.

'In fact, we decided to shoot a video of the counting process without the knowledge of the party to have a record of the proceedings. But, I am afraid, the video could split our party,' Maano said. He added that the process could have even been more transparent if the counting was done at the counting centre.

Another loser, Mfa said they will talk to the press after their petition has been concluded.

'What I can tell you is that the five losing candidates have signed a petition letter and we will be able to talk to the press once the party internal process has been exhausted,' he stated.

From the BDP secretariat, public relations manager, Segaetsho Garekwe said yesterday that the losing candidates have filed a petition.

'The five losing candidates are simply calling for a verification and recount of the ballots. This is contained in a letter the party received today (Monday) and I will not even attempt to go into details of the petition,' he said.

He explained that the BDP Electoral Board will attend to the petition. 'The petitioners have indicated that they will be happy and willing to support anybody who would emerge victorious after their wish has been granted. They would also support anybody including the current winner,' said Garekwe.