Letlhakeng West: final countdown

Sources say that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate, Ngaka Ngaka and Filbert Nagafela of the Botswana National Front (BNF) engaged in a verbal slugfest in a peaceful atmosphere in the presence of officers from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The entertaining three-hour debate was held at Mahupu Junior Secondary School Hall.

"The hall was fully packed and the IEC was very impressed with the debate and the cooperation between the members of the two parties. At the end of the debate, they encouraged everybody to exercise their right and go to the polls on Saturday," said an informant. This was probably the first public debate to be held for a parliamentary by-election.