Kgatleng East
Though reconstituted, the Kgatleng East constituency was in 2014 won by the UDC from the BCP that had won it in 2009. The constituency would in 2019 be won by Mabuse Pule of the BDP. It remains to be seen who will snatch it with Pule a favourite to retain it.
BDP
Pule is seen as the favourite to win the constituency. He won the BDP primaries with 1, 472 followed closely by Lucas Kgosi with 1, 363 votes while Pakiso Pule trailed with 127 votes. While Kgosi initially challenged Pule’s victory, he has since come to the party strengthening Pule’s support base. As if that is not enough, Pule got a huge boost when Obakeng Matlou and his followers dumped the BNF for the ruling party over the allocation of the constituency to the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) secretary-general, Nono Kgafela- Mokoka. Pule has also been praised by residents of his constituency especially at the River Villages for his impact. They shower with him with praises for amongst other things encouraging their fish farming, snooker competitions sponsorships, connecting Botswana electricity to river villages and removing Eskom from South Africa as well as the tarring of the Modipane-Mabalane road.
UDC
Despite internal wrangling, which delayed Nono Kgafela-Mokoka’s campaign and also losing some key opposition figures to other parties, the UDC can never be ruled out of the constituency. The UDC/BNF has always been the favourite party with the BDP having won the constituency just twice since 1999. Just like Pule, she comes from the River Villages but has a chance to cause an upset in the other areas like Oodi, Modipane and Matebeleng, which also have the bulk of the population. Kgafela- Mokoka, who is a seasoned politician having held leadership position at the BNF and currently BPP, is not a clear favourite for the constituency but could still cause an upset. She could also bank on those who were not happy that Pule won. They had lamented that he influenced the barring of former Matebeleng councillor, Modise Ncube, whom they had wanted to contest primaries.
BCP
One of the longest serving councillors, Stephen Makhura, won the Malolwane ward by just a whisker with 633 votes to the BDP’s 622 votes under the UDC ticket. Now with the BCP outside the umbrella, it would take a miracle for Makhura to get anywhere near victory. However, to his advantage, Makhura and the BCP started their campaign early. Unlike the other parties, his candidacy has never been under doubt and he did not even have to go through primary elections.
Kgatleng Central
A new constituency known as Kgatleng Central comprises mostly of areas in Mochudi, the Bakgatla capital.
BCP
Despite having decided that Nninka Tumelo Senwelo would represent the BCP in Kgatleng Central after he won primary elections in November 2023, it would take a miracle for the BCP to win the constituency. Senwelo won the BCP primary elections with 648 votes while Michael Moji got 414. While these numbers are not determinants of who will win the constituency, one of their competition, the BDP primary elections attracted much more numbers.
BDP
Mmusi Kgafela, who won the then Mochudi West constituency with impressive numbers in 2019, is likely the front runner. Kgafela garnered 1, 733 votes to Otsile Moje’s 1, 126 and Shangano Kubanji’s 72 at the BDP’s July primary elections. The Minister of Trade and Industry enjoys support also as the member of the royal family.
BPF
Donald Seleke will be vying to win the parliamentary seat for the BPF who are currently causing havoc with their rallies attracting huge numbers. While Khama is expected to spend a full day in Kgatleng soon to campaign for Seleke and another BPF candidate, Moagi Molebatsi, in Kgatleng West, the party is likely to make little impact in Kgatleng. This is because Bakgatla have pending issues with Khama and his then administration as they blamed him for Kgosi Kgafela’s exile to South Africa where he still is.
UDC
Former Kgatleng District Council chairperson, Mpho Morolong, with his experience and the fact that the UDC or BNF is strong in the area, will give Kgafela tight competition. Having worked with the whole of Kgatleng and understanding the issues as reflected in the radio debates, Morolong could secure the seat for the coalition.
Kgatleng West
Yet another interesting bout as the constituency, unlike the other two, could be scooped by at least three parties being the BDP, the UDC and the BCP. Shortage of residential land and unemployment were on the spotlight during the parliamentary Radio Botswana debates for the constituency. All four prospective parliamentary candidates mentioned the two as major factors, which challenged them to seek a seat in the national assembly.
BDP
Dan Molokwe is the outgoing Kgatleng District Council chairperson. Having been at the helm of the council and overlooking the whole of Kgatleng, he probably knows a lot about Kgatleng and its people. He, however, could be disadvantaged by late coming to the campaigns as his party kicked off the campaign late.
UDC
Kenneth Rapoo of the Alliance for Progressives under the UDC will be counting on the UDC’s popularity in Kgatleng. Though he was given the seat on a silver platter without contesting any primary elections, Rapoo is yet to convince the vast constituency that he should be the outright winner of the parliamentary seat. He, however, will get a boost if the BPF can take some of the BDP’s numbers.
BCP
If being organised, being on time means anything, Dr Unity Dow should walk away with Kgatleng West constituency. She was the first to be launched as a parliamentary candidate in Botswana sometime in February. Having lost in 2014 elections under the BDP ticket, Dow would have learnt from her mistakes and has surely been working hard to secure the constituency. Despite counting on the BCP support, she is looking to get votes from those who supported her while she was at BDP.
BPF
Moagi Bright Molebatsi had an almost two-year stint as the then Mochudi East legislator following the death of Isaac Davids in 2017. He, however, could not retain the constituency in 2019 and now finds himself at the BPF. He was one of Kgafela’s close associates when he was elected. He now comes back under Khama’s BPF, which could meet resistance from Kgafela’s loyalists. Molebatsi will be hoping Khama’s influence and his previous supporters from the UDC can support him.
