The BCP’s confirmed 54

Simasiku Oscar Mapulanga - Chobe

Following their exit from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) managed to keep Simasiku Oscar Mapulanga under the lime banner as other legislators and councillors opted of the opposition coalition. Mapulanga was the UDC candidate in 2019 but lost to incumbent Chobe Member of Parliament, Machana Shamukuni. The candidate who has experience in the banking sector will represent the BCP at the October polls.

Goretetse Kekgonegile - Maun East

The vocal BCP secretary-general, Kekgonegile is defending Maun East, a constituency he won in 2019 under the UDC. Kekgonegile is one of the trusted leaders of the BCP and was suspended alongside Saleshando from the UDC back in 2022. Kekgonegile previously lost Maun East to Kostantinos Markus of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) but Kekgonegile managed to overcome his rival in 2019. He is considered a strong candidate and expected to easily retain the seat as the BCP targets the seven North West constituencies.

Phillimon Aaron – Ngami

After the Delimitation Commission added another Maun constituency, current MP for this constituency Caterpillar Hikuama will contest in Maun West making way for new candidates. After a contest in the primaries, Phillimon Aaron ended up securing the candidacy for the constituency. Aaron was recently launched in Gumare when BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando, expressed that him and Aaron were like Siamese twins. Aaron has a track record in the tourism sector and is regarded as the true son of the soil.

Caterpillar Hikuama - Maun WestThere was a dilemma before Hikuama took the decision to switch to Maun West, but the BCP felt that the MP was just what they needed to take over all the seven North West constituencies. In 2019, incumbent MP Hikuama managed to snatch the Ngami constituency from BDP’s Thato Kwerepe but now he has to retain Maun West which was won by Saleshando.

Dumelang Saleshando - Maun NorthSaleshando needs no introduction but he will always be remembered as that youthful politician who wrestled the Gaborone Central constituency from the BDP’s Margaret Nasha in what was a David.vs Goliath encounter. Son to former BCP president, Gilson Saleshando, Lord Dums as he often called has been the BCP president since 2010, taking the baton from his father. Saleshando suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the UDC’s Phenyo Butale in 2014. After his party joined the UDC in 2017, he switched to Maun West in 2019 and returned to Parliament. He later fell out with UDC Leader, Duma Boko, after voicing out his displeasure at the ‘undemocratic operations’ within the coalition. After serving as the UDC vice president, Saleshando quit the coalition and consequently lost his Leader of Opposition (LoO) title to his former comrade, Dithapelo Keorapetse. Following the creation of another Maun constituency, Saleshando will now contest in Maun North as he also challenges for the presidency.

Gabatsholwe Disho - Okavango EastIn this new constituency, the BCP will field the owner of Safari Company, Bush Lark Safaris, Gabatsholwe Disho. Disho was declared the BCP candidate for the Okavango East constituency after beating Kabelo Mahupe in the primaries. Disho has been involved in the tourism industry for many years and has followed his passion for wildlife, conservation and photography. The man from the remote village of Ngarange on the banks of the Okavango Pan Handle is new to politics. The BCP, nevertheless, believes he is the right candidate to become the first ever legislator for the new constituency.

Kenny Kapinga - Okavango WestFormer deputy commissioner of the Botswana Police Service (BPS) and current Okavango legislator, Kenny Kapinga, will contest in the west after his constituency was divided into two.

In the 2019 General Election, Kapinga defeated then incumbent Bagalatia Arone with a margin of 761 votes as he garnered 7,577 votes to Arone’s 6,816. Initially Kapinga was amongst the five BCP MPs who were expelled by the party for defiance but after consultation with his constituents, he apologised and was welcomed back into the BCP fold.

Mutheto Leonard Uyapo - Tati WestEducationalist and former college lecturer Uyapo will contest in this constituency. Even though he was not actively involved in politics because of his previous job as a civil servant, Uyapo is said to have joined the BCP since inception in 1998. The BCP is convinced that the man from Mapoka village in the North East District will help wrestle back the constituency from the ruling BDP.

Tlhabologo Furniture - Tati EastA promising young politician Furniture will target to unseat the BDP in Tati East where the BCP fancies the constituency. A former Youth League president, Furniture, is regarded as one of BCP’s future cadres.

Vain Mamela – Francistown East Former BCP organising secretary and elderly cadre Vain Mamela needs no introduction. He is a rabble-rouser known to shoot from the hip. He has contested in the south before- where he lost to long time MP Wynter Mmolotsi but he now looks to the east for better luck.

Interest Tawele - Francistown SouthFormer councillor, Tawele, a long time BCP stalwart will upgrade this time around and contest for the MP seat. Last time out in 2019, he contested and lost his former ward Ipopeng to the BDP. Most can remember his past rivalry with Mamela who is now contesting in the east. The BCP is confident that Tawele’s assistance could help take over the constituency from long time MP, Mmolotsi of the UDC.

Nthusi Chimbise - Francistown WestFormer BCP Youth League vice president, Nthusi Chimbise will contest this constituency again this time around under the BCP banner. In 2019, Chimbise was recruited by the then newly formed Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and ended up contesting for the MP seat at the general election. After losing convincingly to incumbent Ignatius Moswaane, Chimbise retraced his steps to the BCP and now the Saleshando led party will entrust him with the candidacy. Chingapani Gwamba - Nata-GwetaGwamba has taken a decision to take a new and tougher challenge of contesting for the Nata-Gweta MP seat which has been under BDP’s Polson Majaga for a very long time. In 2019, Gwamba contested Nata East ward and lost to the BPF. It will be different turf altogether since the BPF is also strong in the area.

Mothaleemang Moalosi– Nkange After incumbent MP Dr Never Tshabang chose the UDC over the BCP, the latter will now look towards Moalosi to reclaim the constituency. Affectionately nick-named ‘Faka Pressure’, Moalosi’s decision to contest Nkange came after his home village ward of Marapong/Semitwe was relocated from the Shashe West constituency to Nkange following the delimitation exercise. Moalosi is not new to the political domain. In 2014 he contested the Shashe West parliamentary elections and lost to incumbent Fidelis Molao. In 2019 he didn’t contest and now he is prepared to battle in a different terrain which is different from Shashe West.

Oganne Mazwigwila - Shashe WestMazwigwila and the BCP have been a complicated love story but the former is now the man who will contest for the MP seat In Shashe West. In 2015 alongside the likes of Lotty Manyapetsa, Mazwigwila was suspended by the BCP and thereafter he joined the BDP only to make a u-turn. Now back to his political home, Mazwigwila’s mission is to win the constituency which has always eluded the BCP.

Themba Joina - TonotaEven years after his party was swallowed by the BCP, MELS leader Themba Joina will try his luck in Tonota once again after his last attempt in 2014. Back then he was still contesting under the BCP banner but when the BCP joined the UDC in 2017, it meant that Joina couldn’t contest for the 2019 General Election.

The UDC opted for Pono Moatlhodi who was then under the BNF. Joina gained popularity decades ago when he boldly said that MELS, a party with no footprint will attain state power. Now he will have to prove doubters that he can win the legislative seat which has eluded him since 2004.

Taolo Lucas BobirwaThe man is well known for patience and perseverance in local politics especially after his win after 20 years of trying. Lucas first contested the elections against James Maruatona in 1999 and finally won in 2019 after beating Francisco Kgoboko of the BDP. Although former president Ian Khama’s magic was credited in his win, the BCP vice president is looking to prove that his 2019 win was not a fluke.

Sennye Obuseng - MmadinareEconomist and former University of Botswana (UB) lecturer, Sennye Obuseng is the BCP candidate for Mmadinare. Besides his economics background, Obuseng is a well-rounded development professional and currently serves in the BCP Central Committee as the secretary for economic affairs.

Kgoberego Nkawana - Selebi-Phikwe EastNkawana is the incumbent MP in the constituency and in 2019 he managed to win the constituency which was once under the BDP’s Nonofo Molefhi. Nkawana had lost it to the latter in 2014 but when the BDP fielded Amogelang Mojuta in 2019, Nkawana was victorious. He now has one job, retain the constituency.

Reuben Kaizer - Selebi-Phikwe WestIn Selibe Phikwe West primaries, Kaizer defeated Professor Brothers Malema last year to secure the candidacy. This is a constituency which has been under the BCP before incumbent MP Keorapetse defied his party leading to his expulsion. This is a must win for the BCP and Kaizer has been tasked with teaching Keorapetse a lesson. Kaizer has been making inroads in the constituency even before the LoO was expelled by the BCP last year. Kaizer will also have to fend off competition from the BDP.

Montwedi Mokhurutshe

- Tswapong NorthIt is not the first time Mokhurutshe will be contesting this constituency for the BCP at this elevel. He did so in 2014 and lost to then area MP Prince Maele. In 2019 he couldn’t contest because the UDC chose to field Ketshogile Kabo in this constituency formerly called Lerala- Maunatlala.

Gape Motswaledi – Palapye The late Gomolemo Motswaledi’s younger brother, Gape Motswaledi contested this constituency under the AP in 2019 but now under the lime colours he is hopeful for a win. He convincingly won the primaries last year.

Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang

- Tswapong SouthGobotswang won this constituency after beating Dorcus Makgato of the BDP but the latter is determined to win it back. Dynamics have changed in the constituency formerly called Sefhare-Ramokgonami. Gobotswang was one of the MPs who benefited from the Khama magic and it remains to be seen how he will perform this time around against Khama and the UDC.

Ethel Gampone - Mahalapye EastGampone is mostly known as a businesswoman and worked with corporate brand franchisee such as Nandos Botswana and Engen Marketing Botswana.

Moncho Moncho - Mahalapye WestThe BCP won this constituency with current MP David Tshere in 2019, but following the latter’s expulsion Moncho will be the BCP Parliamentary Candidate. Moncho will face an uphill task of unseating his former comrade.

Robert Molefabangwe - Shoshong

Former Gaborone West MP, Molefabangwe, has been waiting for a big return to Parley but it never came since 2009. Molefhabangwe was expelled from the then Otsweletse Moupo-led BNF in 2009 before re-joining BNF in 2019. He made a stop at the BDP but it just didn’t come together for the once formidable politician. Molf, as he is affectionately known, is now ready to contest the Shoshong constituency under the BCP.

Serowe constituencies

Methews Batsalelwang will contest in the north while Malebogo Gerald will try in the South. Serowe constituencies are unwinnable for the BCP since it is now a BPF stronghold. The two candidates would just be honouring fixtures.

Daisy Bathusi - Boteti East

Bathusi is an active politician and a businesswoman who once served as the president of the BCP Women’s League. She boldly contested for the BCP vice presidency against Lucas in 2021. In 2014, she was an MP candidate in the Boteti East constituency. As the president of the BCPWL, Bathusi transformed it into a strong lobby and advocacy structure for women’s human rights.

Tumelo Senwelo - Kgatleng CentralSenwelo will represent the party in the next general election in this new constituency after beating Michael Moji in the primaries last year.