Pheto registers as mokoko
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday April 8, 2014 11:08
Pheto registered last week after the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) told him that evidence he presented before an election appeals committee was insufficient to justify a re-run.
Though Pheto has not yet resigned from the party, Mmegi has learnt that the former minister and his team have already started campaigning in the constituency.
Pheto has reportedly been joined by three sitting councillors who also lost during the BDP primary elections.
Other disgruntled BDP members have also joined them.
This, Pheto said, would divide BDP members in the constituency.
Yesterday, Pheto, who has 35 years in the party, confirmed that he has already registered as an independent candidate.
“I cannot say much for now. I will call a press conference very soon to answer all your questions,” he said.
Things turned sour for Pheto after he lost the primary elections to Vincent Seretse last year. Pheto did not concede defeat and lodged, to the regional committee, a complaint alleging irregularities that occured on the day of the primaries.
In an earlier interview with Mmegi, Pheto said he was confident of attracting considerable votes in the forthcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the BDP National Council over the weekend passed a resolution barring candidates who defect to become independents, from being accepted back into the party after 2014.
BDP President, Ian Khama, urged members to learn to accept defeat and said those who have won should cooperate with others that had lost in the coming general elections.
Khama told his members that losing elections does not mean it is the end of the world. Constituency chairperson Chomi Letlole said they would work harder to win the area.
“It is sad that Pheto has left the BDP, but there is nothing we could do. Our aim will be to win the constituency, nothing else,” he said.
Efforts to reach the BDP leadership on Pheto’s status with the party was futile at the time of going to press.