Barata-Phathi betrays opposition?

When the process started in Parliament yesterday afternoon, everybody was expecting the Barata-Phathi faction of the BDP to team up with the opposition to present alternative candidates. But after they were given nomination forms, the team of six Botswana National Front (BNF) and five Botswana Congress Party (BCP) MPs had nobody to nominate for the special election.

The outgoing Speaker, Patrick Balopi issued nomination forms and waited in the belief that the opposition MPs wanted to put forward names of their candidates. Seeing no action, Balopi  immediately called-off the elections and the four nominated candidates Dorcus Makgato-Malesu, Vincent Seretse, Lesego Motsumi and Kenneth Matambo were confirmed as Specially Elected MPs (SEMP). The event did not last long and Parliament adjourned immediately after the nominated candidates were declared SEMPs.