Christopher Sebego, Lt colonel Motlotle Phometsi and Koziba Kgakgamatso battled it out for the BDP primary elections two weeks ago.
Sebego won at the polls, pulling 198 votes while Phometsi got 185 with Kgakgamatso staggered behind with 83 votes.
It is alleged that Sebego uttered statements like togelang batswakwa le thophe nna ngwana wa mo gae, which the other team viewed as a statement which urged the Mmopane villagers not to vote for someone who was not born in Mmopane. Further, Sebegos house-to-house campaign team is accused of telling the villagers not to vote for someone of Kalanga descent and instead vote for a son of the soil and an heir to the ward. Sebego is the son of the wards deceased former councillor, Piet Mogatusi.
When contacted about the uttered statements, Sebego outrightly dismissed the reports.
I only heard about these statements after I won, he said. Cutting his critics to size, Sebego stated that before the elections everyone was quiet and now people were looking to steer trouble for the party. I have never heard of those words, he stressed. BDP s regional chairperson in the Kweneng district confirmed that it was indeed true Kgakgamatso had called him notifying him of his displeasure. I can confirm that I have received a letter of protest on the conduct of the elections, said Kgang Kgang. Questioned about the campaign remarks that were viewed to be fuelling tribalism, Kgang said that he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of the issue.
I cannot go into the details of this issue but all contestants are not from Mmopane and lot of witness have to be called, he said. Our party does not support politics along tribal lines, said Kgang. Lt Colonel Phonetsi who lost marginally to Sebego told Mmegi that he had accepted the election result.
The guy has won and what is important is to rally behind him, said the former army man.
So far the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has not set the date for the Mmopane by-election.
However, Sebego looks set to take over from his father.
