More than a month ago, Seitiso along with seven others were given the nod to contest in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries in the Nata-Gweta constituency after meeting all the requirements. The BDP primaries due in less than two weeks are meant to book candidacy for this year’s general election. However, Seitiso ditched the BDP unexpectedly and joined the Botswana National Front (BNF) who are affiliated to the UDC. There have been suggestions that his move was to some extent fuelled by the fact that he was promised free candidacy at the general election by the coalition. “I have always been open about my desire to represent the people of Nata-Gweta in Parliament.
After so much introspection I felt that I could represent them better when I was in the opposition. The UDC is much more appealing than the ruling party in terms of its plans to address the plight of Batswana and the people of Nata-Gweta,” Seitiso said. He added, “I also increasingly felt unwanted in the BDP which is why I decided to quit. It wasn't about opportunism.” Before ditching the BDP, Seitiso and other aspiring primary election candidates had written to the party leadership complaining about some influential BDP figures in the constituency who they accused of openly campaigning for President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blue-eyed boy, Dr Benjamin Radihepi. There was also mounting speculation that the party was planning to vet out Seitiso, following complaints against him by some activists in the constituency who are widely viewed to be pro-Radihepi. Until Seitiso came on board, the UDC was struggling to find a suitable candidate for Nata-Gweta.
