The three parties, which at some stage were involved in cooperation talks, are the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Botswana Peoples Party (BPP). Whilst the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won convincingly by garnering 295 votes, BCP got 188, BNF and BPP garnered 20 and 19 votes respectively.
Firstly, all the opposition parties have themselves to blame for starting their campaigns late after the death of former area councillor, Gilbert Nkhukhu. Although in some quarters the BDP was blamed for being 'un-African' by starting its campaign immediately after the death of Nkhukhu, it is evident that the move paid dividends in the end. The BDP's early start gave it the necessary edge. The opposition generally took sometime before showing their presence in Mathangwane North, a known BDP stronghold. In the 2004 general election, in Tonota North, the BDP, represented by area MP Baledzi Gaolathe, swept all the council wards.
