Consequently, the winner will face significant campaign responsibilities. Two Cabinet ministers Peggy Serame and Edwin Dikoloti battled it out for the BDP primary elections with the latter winning by 5, 758 votes against Serame who garnered 4 ,031 votes. Serame, however, has not accepted the results. This area is one of the BDP strongholds but due to new dimensions as it was increased to form a new constituency altogether, it has other wards that are known to be opposition ones. Any party experiencing serious tensions might give another the opportunity to win. Goodhope-Mmathethe, one of the largest constituencies in the country, requires any party aiming for victory to be united. The high numbers witnessed during the BDP primary elections demonstrated its existence and proper structures. However, this could change if internal conflicts within the party are not managed and members feel sabotaged.
Returning officer, Thato Machola, affirmed this by telling party members that the results of the primary elections and the turnout at the polling stations were impressive. "I am happy with the numbers that voted at different polling stations. That shows that the party is present and could win," he said. Moreover, he emphasised that the numbers at different polling stations demonstrated the party’s presence and potential for victory. This is a crucial political year where anything is possible in every constituency. It has also become evident that Bulela Ditswe has caused internal conflicts within the party. However, the existing tension between Specially Elected MP, Serame and incumbent Dikoloti suggests that unity is crucial for a successful campaign. Despite their professional behaviour, tension was evident to everyone. If the constituency goes to elections divided as it is, the opposition may gain advantage. Nevertheless, Dikoloti is known for his hard work, and both he and Serame secured strong support in their respective areas. Furthermore, considering Serame's relative inexperience, her performance is commendable. Though in politics a margin of 1, 800 is significant, if Serame had more time to campaign, the outcome could be different more so that she heads a powerful organ of the party, the Women's Wing.
On the ground, it was clear that some BDP members did not know her, even though she was the Women's Wing chairperson. As the party has its own culture, some members wanted her to visit their homes personally to canvass for votes. Additionally, some believed that she needed more time to learn its dynamics because she was relatively new to the party. Moreover, it became evident that the playing field for women and men in politics is still unequal, as many prefer a male candidate over a female one. Another disadvantage for Serame was that the new constituency comprised 50% of Dikoloti's old constituency, where he has maintained a close relationship with the voters. That alone gave Dikoloti a significant advantage over Serame. Additionally, his experience as an MP provided him with an upper hand. To win the area, a candidate must secure support from Mmathethe, Goodhope, and Digawana, as these three villages have the highest voter numbers that determine the outcome. For example, the Digawana polling station had 1, 900 expected voters. However, due to frustrations that voting started late at 11:30am and was scheduled to end at 11:30pm, many voters left when it became dark. Consequently, the high turnout resembled that of general elections, where long queues are expected. Unfortunately, the BDP's failure to manage the elections effectively did not sit well with some members.
Furthermore, some were frustrated that, despite having membership cards, they were not on the voters' roll. Although the BDP has high numbers, smaller villages with fewer voters also play a crucial role in the overall outcome. Goodhope-Mmathethe was among the affected areas during the weekend primary elections. Specifically, voting at seven polling stations started late, around 6pm instead of 6pm, while 14 polling stations began the following day at various times. Consequently, some voters were turned away because they were not on the voters’ roll, despite corrections made to the draft version in the hope that the final one would have the proper names. This was a significant disappointment to the candidates. Furthermore, at Gopong Primary School, a council candidate was missing, thus preventing him from even voting for himself.
