Tonota North By-Election Beckons

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

 

The former Minister of Finance and Development Planning was MP for Tonota since 2004.  He first made it to Parliament in 1999 when he was also appointed Finance Minister as a specially elected MP until 2009. 

It was only after last year's general election that he was deployed to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He was retired from cabinet this year due to ill health. During last year's general election, Gaolathe was returned to Parliament with 5,811 votes compared to 3,067 for the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) candidate, Dr Habaudi Hobona. A total of 12,680 voters had registered in the constituency. The by-election comes when there has been a split in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) following the formation of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). 

Four former BDP MPs have joined the new party. The by-election will test the resilience of the BDP in the constituency.  Gaolathe's son, Ndaba Gaolathe, is one of the people who is expected to join BMD. Ndaba, who was facing disciplinary action, has announced his resignation from the BDP. Last year, after the party suspended the former BDP secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi, Ndaba was one of the people who strongly opposed the punishment that was meted out. 

This is what got him in trouble with the BDP. However, the BMD is not expected to contest the Tonota North by-election. The BMD would rather join forces with the BCP and urge its supporters to vote for the latter. BMD is unlikely to contest the by-election on its own because it has not set up its structures properly.  The by-election also comes at a time when President Khama has challenged BMD defectors to surrender their seats. He said if the defectors are not willing to surrender their seats, they will face the BDP wrath during the 2014 general elections. But the BMD has dared Khama to call a snap election. 

Meanwhile, the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) executive secretary, Fidelis Molao, is reported to have been eyeing Gaolathe's seat. Molao has also worked in the BDP secretariat as the deputy executive secretary.  If there are more candidates, the BDP is expected to call primary elections.