BRP launches manifesto, candidates in Serowe
Friday, October 11, 2024 | 550 Views |
Naysayers had already dismissed the Biggie Butale-led BRP as a non-starter fearing that it may even fail to take part in the October 30 General Election as the youngest party started its preparations on the wrong footing.
BRP, a splinter party from the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) will on October 19 invade Serowe where it’s scheduled to launch its first ever elections manifesto and its 10 parliamentary candidates and 85 council candidates. This move comes after the BRP had been very quiet without open activities since it was formed some months ago.
The party had also been postponing its official launch as a party, many times, which raised doubts about its ability to hold things together.
Butale highlighted that Serowe is the party’s choice for its activities because it’s centrally located for their members coming from the north and south of the country. The venue of the launch will also help the party leaders boost their MP candidates in the three Serowe constituencies of Serowe South, North and North.
“You can only dismiss the BRP at your own peril. We are going to cause major upsets in the impending polls,” promised Butale without specifically pointing to any particular constituency.
The BRP is fielding candidates in Serowe South (Kennedy Otladisang), North (Kabelo Pusoetsile), West (Chimbidzani Chimidza), Palapye (Master Goya), Mahalapye West (Reginald Kadiwa), Shoshong (Gaebusetswe Lapelo), Nata-Gweta (Thatayaone Kehitile), Lentsweletau-Lephepe (Judith Gobotswang), Gamalete (John Mhaladi) and Tati West (Biggie Butale).
Responding to why the BRP chose to contest in 10 out of 61 constituencies, Butale indicated that his party was relatively newly formed and they had to start somewhere.
“We started off in the areas where we have support and those with potential for future growth,” Butale told Mmegi yesterday.
The BRP beliefs in social justice; equal opportunities, equal access to information and economic openness for all. The party goes into the 2024 General Election as a single entity.
Butale was this week upbeat that the Serowe major event would also showcase the strength of the BRP.
“The BRP is going to surprise naysayers as we are destined to cause some major shocks in the national polls,” Butale said.
In fact, early election results in some areas across the country, speak to large voter turnout which suggests that voters crowded at polling stations to decide appropriately. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) revealed that 80% of the 1,037,684 people who had registered to vote turned up to exercise their right.It’s unfortunate that at the time of cobbling this editorial comment, results had just started trickling in. We recognise that...