The BPP says the last time the BNF contested the constituency was in 1989. During the 1989 general election, the BNF council candidate, James Mokgacha, managed only 44 votes.Fast forward to 2004 general elections, the BPP candidate, Jobe Edward lost the Makaleng ward by a slim margin of 88 votes to the late Albert Modise of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). The visually impaired Modise had garnered 392 while Edward managed 304 votes. Edward has since become headman at Matenge village."I don't know if the BNF has support in this ward. It is almost 20 years since they have contested the ward," explained Richard Gudu, the BPP director of elections. The BNF is reported to have said, it will support the BPP council candidate by not fielding a rival candidate at Makaleng. Responding to the Botswana National Front (BNF)'s decision to support BPP candidate during the by-election Gudu said his party has not received any correspondence from the main opposition party.
Gudu would not be drawn to comment whether or not the BNF gesture will enhance the electoral chances of the BPP. Gudu's party has resolved that it will not enter into any electoral agreement with other opposition political parties until after the 2009 general elections. Gudu says his party is busy engaged in a robust campaign to win Makaleng ward by-election. The BPP will not leave any stone unturned to win this marginal ward that falls under Tati West constituency.
