Scramble for youth votes in Mahalapye West by-elections

Youth encompass 60 percent of the countries' population yet they are the ones hard hit by economic problems, and Mahalapye is no exception. The elections will pit Bernad Bolele of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) against David Tshere of the Botswana Congress party (BCP) and Abigail Mogalakwe of the Botswana National front (BNF), who is expected to represent the collective of the opposition dubbed Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

Shortly after he announced his retirement, youth in Mahalapye made it clear that they did not benefit much from former Vice-President Mompati Merafhe, during his tenure as Member of Parliament (MP) for the area. General Merafhe was the MP for the area from 1994 until his resignation earlier this year. Most of them said they admired him at national level, but they felt that he did not have a clear and specific agenda, particularly for the youth.