Mmegi has established that the issue is very explicit in constituencies here, most notable in Francistown West. This week UDC activists in Francistown West reportedly had an intense feud relating to who the coalition should field for Tatitown ward. Two candidates, Samuel Baruti of Botswana National Front (BNF) and Pheko Pheko of Botswana People’s Party (BPP) have started presenting themselves as candidates for Tatitown Ward. Before the sudden arrival of Baruti, it appeared the consensus among UDC candidates was that Pheko is the right candidate for the 2024 General Election.
Mmegi has also established that Barulaganyi Mooketsi of the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) and Thato Thakanelo of the Alliance for Progressives (AP) are currently presenting themselves as candidates for Botsalano ward, which also falls under Francistown West. Some sources in the UDC maintain that the BPP was only given the mandate to manage Francistown West and had a responsibility to allocate the wards to other coalition partners especially in areas where it does not have solid structures. The sources have claimed that other parties in the coalition believe that the BPP does not have the numbers or strength to win the two wards under dispute and could have shared them with its coalition partners. They also argue that the UDC national executive committee (NEC) took a resolution that parties that have been given a constituency to manage must get at least 60% of the wards and other parties’ get 40%. On the flip side, the developments at Tatitown and Botsalano reportedly shocked BPP activists who claim that they were given the liberty to contest all wards in Francistown West. They maintain that the 60%/40% arrangement can only happen if it is practically possible and is not obligatory. Yesterday, BPP secretary-general Tiroyaone Ntsima also claimed that Francistown West wards belong to the party. “To the best of my knowledge, the BPP was allocated all wards in Francistown West.
