BOPEU non-endorsement forced Motsamai withdrawal
Friday, August 22, 2014
![Motsamai](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/uploads/imported_images/2014/august/22/php2F4A.tmp.jpg&w=400&q=72&f=jpg&t=1)
Motsamai
Motsamai had been short-listed to replace the late Gomolemo Motswana in the Gaborone central parliamentary contest. The slot has since been filled with the executive director of Cape Town-based Freedom of Expression Institute, Phenyo Butale.
It is understood that last week Tuesday UDC leadership endorsed Motsamai following much cajoling by Johnson Motshwarakgole. Motshwarakgole is the secretary for labour at the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Union (BOFEPUSU). It is alleged Motshwarakgole promised to pump close to a million into Motsamai’s campaign, something that the veteran Motshwarakgole disputed. Motshwarakgole said he has not made any promise to anyone.
The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...