Four candidates were vying for the right to represent the ruling party in the parliamentary contest at the next general election. But eyes were on the battle between Motaosane and first-time entrant, Lepotokisi. When The Monitor crew made random enquiries at the start of voting on Saturday, there was profuse backing of Motaosane. "It is obvious. The choice is Motaosane. This man has done a lot in his time. Look at the road linking Thamaga and Molepolole, we give him credit," said one Kumakwane man, who received the approval of those around him.
Such a vote of confidence was overwhelmingly reflected when the final results were released just after 6am on Sunday. Motaosane finished way ahead with 3,404 while Lepotokisi trailed a distant second with 997. Setshwano Mokgweetsinyana had 204 while the only female candidate, Reetsang Mhitshane polled 196. By midnight when results from the wards started to trickle in, it became apparent that Motaosane had the win in the bag. In 2019, Motaosane registered another landslide against the opposition, polling more than 13,000 votes while his nearest challenger was way behind at just above 3,000.
In the neighbouring Gabane-Mmankgodi constituency, the Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi avoided an upset when he easily secured his ticket to contest in the general elections. Mmusi, who also enjoyed a big margin win against the opposition in 2019, was the BDP's clear favourite as he crushed Bdongo Ntwayagae by a margin of more than 1,000 votes. The minister polled 2,191 to Ntwayagae's 969. Voting in some polling stations in the constituency continued until late as long queues were witnessed in some areas just before closing time. In both Thamaga-Kumakwane and Gabane-Mmankgodi, there was the common concern of names missing from the voters' roll.
But in the end, it proved to be an emphatic endorsement for both Motaosane and Mmusi who will now lie in wait for their opponents from the opposition in October.
