Despite facing strong competition from Kentse Rammdi, who also enjoys significant local support, Letsholo's effective performance in Parliament has possibly contributed to his successful primary elections. In the primary elections, Letsholo garnered 2, 453 votes, Rammidi followed with 2, 073 and Thamiso Chabalala with 794 votes. Even though the vote totals might not be as high as anticipated, receiving 5, 000 votes in primary elections is still significant and indicates a strong voter base. In Kanye, the elections primarily attracted older voters, similar to Goodhope-Mmathethe, with fewer younger participants. Kanye East includes newer areas like Molapowabojang and Lotlhakane villages, which could be influencing the demographic of voters.
However, the general elections pose a tougher challenge, as opposition parties, such as the Botswana National Front (BNF), frequently compete strongly in the area. On one hand, the BDP has historically maintained a strong presence in this contituency, often winning the area due to the diligent efforts of candidates. Consequently, the high turnout of BDP members in the primaries suggests that the party has robust structures and may be well-positioned to retain the seat. On the other hand, it is a common practice for individuals to switch party affiliations or register with opposition parties during the primaries to influence the outcome. Therefore, the true reflection of party support typically emerges during the general elections, as voter dynamics can shift significantly between the primaries and the final vote. The primaries for Kanye East faced several challenges, particularly as they were postponed from Saturday to Sunday. Consequently, some voters had already returned to their workplaces. Initially, the elections were scheduled for Saturday. However, around 3pm, delays in printing the voters rolls and ballot papers caused discouragement among supporters. As a result, when the materials and returning officers arrived around 6:30pm, many voters had left. That’s, why the decision was made to postpone the election. Subsequently, while many voters returned the following day to cast their votes, others were unable to come back.
On his Facebook page, Chabalala congratulated Letsholo and his mentor, Rammidi and also thanked those who supported him. “I learnt many lessons in this journey, some good, bad and ugly! We live to fight another day,” he said. On social media, Rammidi said; “the good ending to any game is a win even though not assured at all times. The greatest part though, is the people involved in this game of elections. Through the journey, we meet people, some we have never met before. What is most intriguing about this game is the people. People who despite that they will have no personal gain still put everything into your game plans.” He congratulated Letsholo for fighting hard and wished him luck as they move forward. The 2024 General Election will reveal whether Letsholo has maintained a strong connection with his constituents. With just two months remaining before the polls, assuming they occur in October, he will need to intensify his efforts. Given how his opponents handled their defeat, it suggests that he has managed to maintain positive relationships even with those he competed against.
In an interview with Electoral Board chairperson, Peter Siele on Sunday, he admitted that his board had a production challenge as they never anticipated it. “I cannot explain what had really happened as we were relying on the third person. We understand they had technical issues and also the holidays might have affected them. Voters rolls and ballot papers arrived late in some places. About 28 out of 35 constituencies started on Saturday night while some were postponed to Sunday,” he had said. Meanwhile, Kanye East vice chairperson, Moanamise Entaile, said in an interview on Sunday: “Some of the BDP members could not come to vote because of what happened yesterday. The numbers could have increased if elections were held on Saturday. The BDP structures are active in this area and we are hopeful that we will return it.”
