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Not yet uhuru for BDP after primaries

 

 

Not yet uhuru for BDP after primaries
T
he ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has faced a tough time since it held its primary elections late last year. The controversial elections were riddled with irregularities, accusations and counter-accusations and heart-break for a number of political big wigs. At 108, the number of protests by losers was unprecedented. This week the BDP central committee nullified results in three constituencies with only the Kweneng region appeals still to be heard. The Kweneng losers have been given seven days to appeal by the regional committee. The BDP primaries have causes resentment with some party members threatening to vote for the opposition after the central committee determined the appeals. Below is a look at how the party may fare in some of the constituencies where primaries were mired in controversy.
Tonota South 
The defeat of Deputy Speaker, Pono Moatlhodi in the primary elections might have an impact on the BDP's chances in the coming general elections. Moatlhodi lost to Thapelo Olopeng in the primaries. Currently, Moatlhodi's next move - whether he will remain with the BDP - is still unknown. Moatlhodi is a man of the people, who still has influence in Tonota South and beyond. Having expressed his unhappiness even before the primary elections, he can easily influence people to vote for the opposition if he does not take kindly to his loss and the subsequent dismissal of his appeal. His less known conqueror, Olopeng will be forced to work extra hard in the constituency. 
Francistown East 
Tight competition is expected in this constituency because the margin between BDP and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was very close in the last general election. The winner of BDP primaries, Buti Billy is entrenched in the constituency just like his BCP challenger, Morgan Moseki. Billy's best bet for a win is reconciliation with the supporters of his BDP victim and Foreign Affairs Minister, Phandu Skelemani. The BDP faithful in the constituency are deeply divided and this can easily affect performance. In the last general elections, Skelemani narrowly won the seat with 3,698 votes to the BCP's 3,130.  
Maun East 
Though BDP won the constituency with high numbers in 2009, this does not make it a safe seat this year. Supporters of the 2009 winner, Frank Ramsden seem not to be happy at all with the loss of their man. They had threatened to cast their vote for the opposition if the MP's appeal is dismissed. The appeal was dismissed this week and it remains to be seen if the supporters will make good their threat. In 2009, Ramsden won with 6,509 votes followed by the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) candidate with 2,693 and BNF (2,548).
Sefhare/Ramokgonami (Tswapong South)
The BDP may be forced to fight tooth and nail to retain the seat. Internal fighting seems to be costing the party a lot in the area. Last year, it lost a by-election in one of its strongholds - Tumasera/Seleka - because of internal squabbles. Moreover, two BDP councillors from the area defected to BCP. The fight for primary elections between two contestants, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Oreeditse Molebatsi and Minister of Trade and Industry Dorcas Malesu was so dirty. This may complicate things for the BDP given the strong showing by the opposition in the constituency in 2009. 
Though the BDP through Molebatsi retained the seat with 5,183 votes, the BCP was not far behind with 4,175 while BNF got 750. 
Shoshong
This is another constituency where the BDP is at war with itself. The rivalry between the current MP, Phillip Makgalemele and the man he ousted Duke Lefhoko has been heightened and this may not help the BDP cause. Whether Makgelemele's brief dalliance with the opposition Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) affect his chances is not clear. He won the seat in 2009 with 4,820 votes ahead of the BNF candidate with 3,203 votes. 
Mathethe/
Molapowabojang
BDP is facing problems in the constituency because some members of the branch committee seem not to be happy with the winner of the primaries, Dr Alfred Madigele, who ousted cabinet minister Peter Siele. 
It has become clear that some of them tried everything in their power to force a re-run. The divisions may give the opposition a chance to wrestle the seat from the ruling party. 
Molepolole North
The fighting between area MP, Gaotlhaetswe Matlhabaphiri and his nemesis, Kabo Sebele has not been solved up to now. Things do not look good for the BDP as some councillors who lost primary elections are on Sebele's side. 
Matlhabaphiri would have to work extra hard because he won with a slim margin. This time around he does not have people's sympathy like before. In 2009, he won the seat with 5,595 votes while the BNF candidate was second with 4,914.

The controversial elections were riddled with irregularities, accusations and counter-accusations and heart-break for a number of political big wigs. At 108, the number of protests by losers was unprecedented.

This week the BDP central committee nullified results in three constituencies with only the Kweneng region appeals still to be heard. The Kweneng losers have been given seven days to appeal by the regional committee. The BDP primaries have causes resentment with some party members threatening to vote for the opposition after the central committee determined the appeals. Below is a look at how the party may fare in some of the constituencies where primaries were mired in controversy.

Tonota South 

The defeat of Deputy Speaker, Pono Moatlhodi in the primary elections might have an impact on the BDP's chances in the coming general elections. Moatlhodi lost to Thapelo Olopeng in the primaries. Currently, Moatlhodi's next move - whether he will remain with the BDP - is still unknown. Moatlhodi is a man of the people, who still has influence in Tonota South and beyond. Having expressed his unhappiness even before the primary elections, he can easily influence people to vote for the opposition if he does not take kindly to his loss and the subsequent dismissal of his appeal. His less known conqueror, Olopeng will be forced to work extra hard in the constituency. 

Francistown East 

Tight competition is expected in this constituency because the margin between BDP and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was very close in the last general election. The winner of BDP primaries, Buti Billy is entrenched in the constituency just like his BCP challenger, Morgan Moseki. Billy's best bet for a win is reconciliation with the supporters of his BDP victim and Foreign Affairs Minister, Phandu Skelemani. The BDP faithful in the constituency are deeply divided and this can easily affect performance. In the last general elections, Skelemani narrowly won the seat with 3,698 votes to the BCP's 3,130.  

Maun East 

Though BDP won the constituency with high numbers in 2009, this does not make it a safe seat this year. Supporters of the 2009 winner, Frank Ramsden seem not to be happy at all with the loss of their man. They had threatened to cast their vote for the opposition if the MP's appeal is dismissed. The appeal was dismissed this week and it remains to be seen if the supporters will make good their threat. In 2009, Ramsden won with 6,509 votes followed by the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) candidate with 2,693 and BNF (2,548).

Sefhare/Ramokgonami (Tswapong South)

The BDP may be forced to fight tooth and nail to retain the seat. Internal fighting seems to be costing the party a lot in the area. Last year, it lost a by-election in one of its strongholds - Tumasera/Seleka - because of internal squabbles. Moreover, two BDP councillors from the area defected to BCP. The fight for primary elections between two contestants, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Oreeditse Molebatsi and Minister of Trade and Industry Dorcas Malesu was so dirty. This may complicate things for the BDP given the strong showing by the opposition in the constituency in 2009. Though the BDP through Molebatsi retained the seat with 5,183 votes, the BCP was not far behind with 4,175 while BNF got 750. 

Shoshong

This is another constituency where the BDP is at war with itself. The rivalry between the current MP, Phillip Makgalemele and the man he ousted Duke Lefhoko has been heightened and this may not help the BDP cause. Whether Makgelemele's brief dalliance with the opposition Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) affect his chances is not clear. He won the seat in 2009 with 4,820 votes ahead of the BNF candidate with 3,203 votes. 

Mathethe/Molapowabojang

BDP is facing problems in the constituency because some members of the branch committee seem not to be happy with the winner of the primaries, Dr Alfred Madigele, who ousted cabinet minister Peter Siele. It has become clear that some of them tried everything in their power to force a re-run. The divisions may give the opposition a chance to wrestle the seat from the ruling party. 

Molepolole North

The fighting between area MP, Gaotlhaetswe Matlhabaphiri and his nemesis, Kabo Sebele has not been solved up to now. Things do not look good for the BDP as some councillors who lost primary elections are on Sebele's side. Matlhabaphiri would have to work extra hard because he won with a slim margin. This time around he does not have people's sympathy like before. In 2009, he won the seat with 5,595 votes while the BNF candidate was second with 4,914.