Kaboeamodimo is former president Ian Khama’s trusted right-hand man who is also CEO of the SKI Khama Foundation. He was over the weekend launched as the BPF candidate ahead of the October 30 slated polls in rather underwhelming circumstances. Despite the huge size of the constituency made up of 21 wards, Kaboeamodimo was presented by the party president Mephato Reatile alongside four council candidates. Reatile had said some of them were involved in a car accident alongside other BPF members on their way from Rakhuna to Mmathethe, hence the attendance was also low. Large numbers do show up and vote in the two now-merged constituencies (Goodhope-Mmathethe). In 2019, Goodhope-Mabule was won by Eric Molale with 9, 844 votes and the Mmathethe-Molapowabojang constituency was won by Dr Edwin Dikoloti with 12, 069 with the BPF’s Themba Tadubana last with just 505 votes.
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries, though recalled in the constituency, also attracted huge numbers, meaning Kaboeamodimo and the BPF would need even more numbers. When giving his acceptance speech, Kaboeamodimo said he was confident they would do great because wherever they go, they are asked if they are bringing Khama’s party and if not they would not be granted an audience. He expressed confidence that their party had been welcomed in the area and he was sure of a victory. “It would be amiss of you to vote for the BDP. They believe you are easy to lead because you agree with everything. They have attacked people including elders for no reason. They also brought upon [us] programmes such as Chema Chema and others. They are likely to get our old people into trouble. We should work really hard and encourage everyone to vote out the BDP,” he said.
While the then Mmathethe-Molapowabojang has always been in the hands of the BDP, Goodhope-Mabule has witnessed political fluctuations in recent years. In the 2014 General Election, it was won by the UDC through James Mathokgwane, who later resigned to take up a lucrative job at SPEDU in Selebi-Phikwe as the Regional Director for Economic Diversification. Mathokgwane had secured 6, 712 votes against Kitso Mokaila’s 6, 101. After Mathokgwane’s resignation, the UDC fielded Kgosi Letlaamoreng II, who retained the constituency in 2015 by garnering 6, 152 votes against Molale’s 4, 372. However, the political landscape shifted in 2019 when Molale secured a decisive victory with 9, 844 votes against UDC’s Dr Patrick Molutsi, who received 5, 935 votes.
