Tswapong North constituency will be called Lerala/Maunatlala while Tswapong South constituency will go by the name Sefhare/Ramokgonami. The changes, according to the association chairman Shine Namane said during an interview that they are currently mobilizing a delegation that will comprise a team from the two Tswapong constituencies."We are planning to meet the Minister of Presidential Affairs Mokgweetsi Masisi to express how disappointed we are, though we know that it will not make any difference because the commission's decision is final," he added. Namane further said that when they initially discussed the issue, they wanted to seek audience with President Ian Khama but were instead advised to meet Minister Masisi.He said: "We are currently mobilising a delegation because we fear that our tribe's name will become extinct. We wonder why the same cannot be done with constituencies in Kgalagadi and other areas who still remain with their tribal names. We do not want to be considered as a minority group."
Giving a political perspective, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang from Sefhare village said the renaming of Tswapong South to Sefhare/Ramokgonami has not gone down well with the of constituents. He said that while the previous name was inclusive, the current name is exclusive. "We were never consulted about the need to rename the constituency and we reject the notion that changing tribal names of places is a way of fighting tribalism. If that was the case, why not scrap land board names with tribal roots like Ngwato land board," he said.He said although the Independent Electoral Commission might use the name Sefhare-Ramokgonami, politicians would continue to use Tswapong South. Also of great concern, Dr. Gobotswamang said, is that the demarcation committee has reduced the number of wards in the constituency from 8 to 7 by getting rid of Moshopha ward that has been incorporated into Pilikwe ward."We are calling for increase of wards because the population has increased and the work of councilors has escalated. We have two specially elected positions that can easily be converted into elected positions if money is an issue," he said. Dr. Gobotswang said they are very unhappy that political parties, being key stakeholders, were not part of the demarcation committee and said the results are decisions that are extremely divisive.
