Tshabalala wins dog-eat-dog BDP primaries

The seat fell vacant following the death of Farayi Bonyongo early this year. It was Bonyongo, who won the Mapoka-Nlaphwane ward with 692 votes in 2019. He was followed by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) with 356 votes, an independent candidate with 321 votes, and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) with 176 votes.

Tshabalala bagged 143 votes followed by Paulos Nkoni, Falani Masalila, Tirelo Mukokomani, and Changu Molapisi with 96, 46, 37 and 27 votes respectively. The 349 people who voted in the internal plebiscite put the BDP in pole position to possibly win the impending by-election which date is yet to be announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).