Bernard Bolele: A political fighter with a never-say-die spirit

The political game was not over yet though he acknowledges that he was adversely saddened by the loss. Having been the campaign manager for Merafhe in 1994, Bolele had made up his mind 14 years down the line to challenge his master. He posed the first ever formidable challenge to Merafhe in the primaries.

Challenging the feared Merafhe in Mahalapye West was akin to challenging authority. The founding commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) was not an ordinary politician. He was one of the longest serving MPs and heavyweights of the ruling BDP. He had been one of the closest associates of all the four men who have been president in Botswana. It was such a giant that Bolele sought to oust in the primaries. No wonder he was comprehensively walloped, with Merafhe scooping 2,775 votes to his paltry 704 votes.