Dow’s 2024 candidacy uncertain after going lime

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday November 13, 2023 06:00

Dow who once contested for a parliamentary seat in Mochudi West joins the BCP at a time when the party had just finished their primary elections in various constituencies countrywide. The BCP held its primary elections for the new Kgatleng Central constituency last month and one Tumelo Nninka Senwelo emerged as the winner with 648 votes against Michael Moji’s 414.

Dow hasn’t made a decision about contesting for next year’s General Election but she could be slotted somewhere considering that the Delimitation Commission has increased the constituencies in the area to three. This is after dividing Mochudi East and Mochudi West constituencies. The BCP has also indicated that they will hold the second phase of their primaries next month.

Dow officially became a member of the BCP yesterday, when she was presented with a membership card at a press conference held at Masa Hotel. “I have been in negotiations with the BCP for over a year, and I didn’t make my decision lightly. I’m not here by accident. These are genuine people who share my beliefs. I have never felt more content or happy than I do now,” Dow told the media in a press conference yesterday.

She acknowledged that politics are demanding, both in terms of time and resources, and can be emotionally draining. Dow committed to working hard with her fellow BCP members to help people understand the party’s mission and values. Dow revealed that she was also in talks with other parties, but ultimately decided to join the BCP. She said she chose the BCP because she likes its consultative approach and believes it can take Botswana forward. Speaking about her former party Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Dow said it is time for Batswana to vote for a party that will address their problems and create job opportunities for their children. Dow criticised the State of Nation Address (SONA), which was delivered by President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Monday, saying it is clear that the BDP has no plan to help the people of Botswana. For his part, BCP President Dumelang Saleshando praised Dow’s record saying she had shown great courage by leaving the BDP. He acknowledged that it is not easy to leave a party with a strong position in government and commended Dow for making a tough decision. He also acknowledged that it can be challenging to be in an opposition party, as it does not have the same resources as the BDP. Saleshando said it takes a person with strong convictions, like Dow, to make a decision like this. He praised her bravery and determination. Saleshando said that Dow refused to be used by the BDP to unseat Kgosi Mosadi Seboko at the Pan African Parliament.

Looking back at her political career, Dow, a former judge joined politics in 2012 when she vied for a legislative seat in Mochudi West. She won the Mochudi West BDP parliamentary primary elections in 2013. In the 2014 General Election, Dow failed to win the constituency from Gilbert Mangole of the Botswana Movement of Democracy (BMD).

She was later elected as a SEMP and appointed the Minister of Basic Education. She did not contest for the 2019 Election race and in her place the BDP put a royal, Mmusi Kgafela who managed to wrestle the constituency from the opposition. After 2019, Dow was once again elected SEMP and consequently, appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs before stepping down from the position in August 2020. If the BCP puts Dow back in Mochudi West, she is likely to face Kgafela if the latter wins the BDP primaries popularly known as Bulela Ditswe.