Tsholofelo by-election a test for BDP

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday March 26, 2010 00:00

The by-election comes at a time when the BDP is facing a split as indicated by the Barata Phathi faction. 

The Tsholofelo South by-election has been necessitated by the death of a BDP councillor, Joshua Taunyane. The late councilor won the ward in last year's general elections, with 508 votes. He was followed by Dikeledi Mooketsi of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) with 353 votes while Elizabeth Lekoba of the Botswana National Front (BNF) trailed behind with 162 votes. 

The Tsholofelo South ward was a BNF stronghold until 2004 when it lost to BDP.

In this by-election the BDP is fielding Taunyane's son, Moagi Taunyane while the BCP has retained Mooketsi as its candidate. This time around, the BNF is represented by Negro Mothambiso. 

The BDP campaign manager, Jeffrey Mapharing is confident that his party will retain the ward. He said people are showing that they are still supporting the BDP. 'They have not changed their minds,' he asserted. Mapharing who is a specially nominated councillor, does not feel that the goings-on in the party will affect their performance in the by-election. He said even attendances at the rallies have been good. 

BCP campaign manager, councillor Ephraim Mabengano said they are ready for the battle, and expect to be rewarded for their hard work.

Mabengano said they are not concerned about last year's margin which was just 155. 'In the past we managed to win by-elections when we have been beaten by a margin of 700.  We had been able to reverse big margins.  Our party is still organised,' he said. 

Mabengano said during the general elections, they have not been able to penetrate certain areas due to lack of resources. But when there is a by-election, they are able to pool their resources together.  He said they are also able to focus on a specific area.

He said they are also the only party that has a woman candidate in this by-election. He expects this to work in their favour.  He added that their campaign has been based on women empowerment.  Mabengano said they are not calling on people to vote on their candidate solely because she is a woman. He said she has also proved to be a capable community worker. 

The BCP official believes that his party will take the ward.

BNF candidate, Mothambiso said it is the voters who will have the final say.  Mothambiso said people have been impressed by his clean campaign which has been issue based. He said even his rivals are envious about the manner in which he is running his campaign.  He added that he does not attack individuals but has been telling voters what he is going to offer them.

Since last year's general elections, there have been two by-elections, all won by the BDP.  One of the by-elections was held at Dibete/Palla Road in the Central District following the death of BDP councillor, Abdul Bosekeng. BDP retained the ward in the subsequent by-election.

Another by-election was held at the Moshawana ward in Kgatleng following a tie between the BCP and the BDP.  Both the BCP and BDP candidates attained 431 votes. BDP eventually emerged the winner in that by-election.