He told The Monitor on Saturday that nothing will deter him from becoming an MP. “I have built strong connections in the area and understand the political landscape well. As an independent candidate, I garnered substantial support and with the UDC, victory will be even easier,” he said. “My dedication to hard work, coupled with ongoing community engagement during my time away from office has further solidified my position.” In the 2019 General Election, Maele received 5,027 votes as an independent candidate but lost to the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) which won by 6,166 votes, with the UDC getting 2,435.
He expressed confidence that his previous success as an independent runner that secured high votes gave a strong indicator of his potential victory, this time around with the support of the UDC. The UDC aspirant candidate reiterated the ongoing confidence people of his constituency have in him, highlighting their persistent concerns about the lack of development in the area. He noted a shift in the strength of the BDP, indicating it's not as formidable as it once was. Maele pointed out several factors contributing to the decline in the BDP's popularity, including his treatment by the party. While he prefers not to dwell on past grievances, he highlighted the ruling party's failure to generate employment opportunities for Batswana as a significant factor. He also stressed the high unemployment rate in his constituency, particularly amongst educated youth.
