the monitor

Khama magnet misses target in Jwaneng

Ian Khama. PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Ian Khama. PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) president, Mephato Reatile, got a rude awakening over the weekend as he learnt that the 'Khama magic' has missed his constituency.

Reatile was to be launched by party patron and campaign manager Ian Khama in an event scheduled to take the whole day. Unfortunately for Reatile, Jwaneng-Mabutsane residents didn't show up in good numbers. Following his return from self-imposed exile in September, the former president kicked off a national tour campaigning for his party alongside Reatile. The BPF president, Reatile, was initially allocated two full days to spend with Khama in his constituency on October 25 and 26. On the first day, they hosted four rallies in different settlements of the constituency.

From the pictures and videos shared, one could tell that the 'magnet' wasn't as attractive as was expected. It is understood that upon realising the tough task ahead, instead of spending the whole Saturday at the launch in Jwaneng, Mogoditshane was added to Khama's schedule, and he would launch Reatile on Saturday morning. Only a handful had arrived at the venue, which looked like little effort was put into organising when Khama arrived. He briefly spoke to those who gathered and called on them to vote for Reatile and his councillors. It came to the fore then that Reatile is supported by just 11 council candidates in a constituency of 19 wards. Perhaps to avoid embarrassment, unlike in other areas, there were no live videos or pictures from the event shared on Khama's, Reatile's, or and the BPF Facebook pages.

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