The two fought on opposing sides in 2019, but AP’s decision to join the opposition coalition last year has changed everything leaving the constituency in AP’s hands. Both warring parties lost to incumbent area legislator, Kabo Morwaeng, of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) who won convincingly by garnering 10,228 votes in 2019. Mmatli, who then represented the UDC, came second with 2,733 votes while Monageng managed only 1,471 votes. It has since become apparent that Mmatli is complaining about Monageng whom he accuses of having abandoned the constituency following their losses in the 2019 General Election. According to Mmatli, Monageng had not been active in the area until last year when he heard that AP and UDC will be cooperating. “I have been managing this constituency on behalf of the UDC even after I lost to the ruling party, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). I did not leave the area, instead I ensured that the membership grew. Of course, AP was not part of the UDC but some of its members in the area have been working collectively with us. Monageng was nowhere to be found,” Mmatli said.
