Lull before the storm in Mahalapye West

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) issued a writ last Thursday announcing that the by-election would be held on November 3, the same date as voters in Tshikenyega ward in the constituency will elect a replacement for the late Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillor Konopo Phillimon.

After the announcement, contesting parties played their cards close to the chest and appeared to have been caught off-guard. They however, asserted that they will soon be unsheathing their weapons for the campaigns.