Ramaotwana, Ntime bid for Gaborone parliamentary seats

OLIVER MODISE
Staff Writer | Friday November 2, 2007 00:00

With the elections draw hear, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) central committee has already endorsed Gomolemo Motswaledi to take on Saleshando in the Gaborone central constituency in 2009.

Ramaotwana's step into the ring comes months after several attempts by BNF tacticians to lure attorney Duma Boko into the parliamentary race believing that he would be a credible candidate to tackle Saleshando.

'I believe in fighting the war where it is tough,' said Ramaotwana. He said he initially wanted to challenge Minister of Finance, Baledzi Gaolathe in the Tonota North constituency.

The former mayor revealed that he has been approached to contest in Francistown East, West and Gaborone Central.

'I am currently negotiating with party structures at Gaborone Central,' adding that although he has not yet made up his mind, he would not abandon a request from people in a constituency he has been serving as a councillor.

He further said that Saleshando and Motswaledi do not intimidate him, stressing that his approach to politics was more on peoples' concerns than on whom he is up against.

Ramaotwana said that the BNF could win the constituency because it had a good track record in central.

'We have over 2, 000 members incentral,' he said, arguing that for an early victory at central, this record meant ensuring that BNF card-carrying members first vote before appealing for sympathisers.

It is not yet clear who Ramaotwana will face in the BNF primaries, but speculation is that the party's former vice-president, Kathleen Letshabo, who represented the party in central in the 2004 elections will not be standing for parliamentary office this time around.

In the 2004 general election, Saleshando won the constituency by 2, 992 votes, beating the BDP's Margaret Nasha in a closely contested race. Nasha followed with 2,901 while Letshabo garnered 1, 917. Although it is still too early to predict the outcome, Saleshando, Ramaotwana and Motswaledi all enjoy favourable support among University of Botswana students.

In another interesting development, long time BNF activist and former councillor for Borakalalo ward in Molepolole, Lemogang Ntime has declared his interest to represent the party in Gaborone North.

'I would have preferred to contest a council seat, but some comrades in the constituency are still insisting I should stand,' revealed Ntime.

Ntime says he has relocated from Molepolole to come and work for the party in Gaborone.

'I have been approached to come and stand,' Ntime said, stating that he was comfortable with contesting in Gaborone North because it is held by the BDP.

Ntime will battle it out at the party primaries with former youth league president, Gabriel Kanjabanga.