26 Aug 2018

 Botswana Democratic Party over the weekend held its second phase of the primary election dubbed Bulela Ditswe in the 39 constituencies across the country and a number of BDP political heavyweights, notably Cabinet Ministers, have fallen prey to the party’s primary elections.

Incumbent Selebi Phikwe East’s MP, who is also Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi lost against Mr Amogelang Mojuta 

Mr Mojuta gained 1 306 votes against Mr Molefhi’s 1 125. 

The contest saw Mr Molefhi winning two wards out the seven in the constituency being Botshabelo South and Ikageleng Phase 2.

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo became another causality of primary elections.

Thamaga-Kumakwane constituency incumbent, Mr Mabeo lost to sitting councillor of Thamaga North, Mr Pelaelo Motaosane, who amassed 3 813 votes against Mr Mabeo’s 2 241. 

In all eight Thamaga-Kumakwane wards, Mr Mabeo only managed to outsmart Mr Motaosane in Kumakwane council ward, while the rest voted for Mr Motaosane.

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi also lost Bobonong constituency to Mr Franscisco Kgoboko.  

Mr Kgathi, who is also BDP’s deputy secretary general garnered 2 593 votes against Mr Kgoboko’s 4 865.

In Kgalagadi South, Mr Sam Brooks won the elections by 3 020 votes, defeating the incumbent MP, who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government, Mr Frans van der Westhuizen,  who garnered 1 938 followed by Chabanga Chabanga with 583 votes.

Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi lost Kgalagadi North constituency to Ms Talita Monnakgotla.  

Ms Monnakgotla gathered 2 139 votes against Mr Moipisi’s 1 696. 

Member of Parliament, Mr Ngaka Ngaka emerged one of the many casualties holding a ministerial position, just like many other cabinet colleagues following the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections held over the weekend.

Mr Ngaka managed 2 059 votes while the winner, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe garnered 2 077 voters while the other candidate, Mr Tlotlo Batlhophi came a distant third with 727 votes.

Out of 4 183, Mr Letsholo garnered a total of 1 878 votes against Mr Ralotsia’s 1 398, followed by Mr Victor Makuku and Mr Leach Tlhomelang’s 293 and 266 votes respectively. Mr Julius Kamodi and Mr Kenalemongwe Mopipi trailed behind with 216 and 132 votes respectively.

Dr Edwin Dikoloti has emerged victorious in the Mmathethe/ Molapowabojang constituency, after garnering 3 369 votes against the current MP who is also the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Alfred Madigele’s 3062 votes.

Mr Pelonomi Nanogang followed with 128 votes and Ms Lilian Gopolang secured 111 votes.

Meanwhile Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane will represent the party in Boteti West after beating his opponents by a big margin. 

He got 4 633 votes against Emmanuel Kgaboetsile’s 701 and Tlale Setumo’s 352 respectively.

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Thapelo Olopeng retained the Tonona constituency candidacy.  Mr Olopeng gained 3 392 votes compared to Messrs  Tapela Setsege, Peter William and Botho Ntirang, who gained 1 320, 320 and 565  respectively.

Mr Vincent Seretse, an incumbent in the Lentsweletau/Mmopane constituency emerged victorious by retaining his position of being the BDP candidate for 2019 general election with 1 514 against six of his opponents. 

Mr Seretse won with a margin of 45 votes against Ms Nnaniki Makwinja’s 1 469, followed by Mr Chommie Letlhole, who took position three with 779. 

Messrs Mogatusi Sebego, Bernedict Molefe, Col. Diswaswa Mokopaina garnered 227, 215, 171 respectively while Mr Patrick Manthe trailed behind with 165 votes.

Palapye constituency incumbent MP, Mr Moiseraele Goya retained his parliamentary candidacy by gaining 2 780 votes against Mr Isaac Maforaga and Mr Moses Kesamang’s 749 and 491 respectively.  

In Molepolole North constituency, Mr Oabile Regoeng won the candidature.  Mr Regoeng garnered 1 434, while other contestants Mr Bashi Kgage got 650 votes, against Ms Botsalo Rabogadi’s 650 votes and Mr Moitlamo Selema’s 33 votes.

Serowe West constituency voted in Mr Tshekedi Khama favour and he won five out of six wards gaining 2 797 votes against Mr Moemedi Dijeng and Mr Keletso Rakhudu, who gathered 1 594 and 462 respectively.

Maun East incumbent MP, Mr Kostantinos Markus retained the constituency candidacy. 

Mr Markus garnered 2 214 votes followed by Mr Gakenosi Mpho by 1 149.  

Mr Sianang Nkgogelang and Mr Boikhutso Toteng were voted by 310 and 167 voters respectively.

Mr Mabuse Pule was victorious in Mochudi East, winning the elections by 1 695 votes followed by Mr Gobusamang Rampa, who got 1 427 votes while Mr Enock Madisa garnered 478 votes with Shangano Kubanji trailing behind with 63 votes.

Former Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Advocate Sadique Kebonang also lost his Lobatse MP candidacy to Mr Thapelo Matsheka, who gained 1 376 votes against Adv. Kebonang’s 1 073.  

Also on the running for Lobatse candidacy were Mr Kamal Jacobs, who gained 1 219 votes and Mr Patrick Kebailele with 218 votes.  

Mr Ahmed Ishael and Mr Lone Bome gathered 317 and 66 votes respectively.

In the Moshupa-Manyana constituency, Mr Karabo Gare defeated Mr Stephen Kganela with 4 953 votes against Mr Kganela’s 798.

Further, In a tightly contested Gaborone South candidacy, Mr Meshack Mthikulu won  against Mr Monametsi Kalaymotho with 1 539 votes against 1 432, while in Shoshong, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele retained the constituency candidacy.

Mr Bernard Bolele and Dr Ditshupo Maje won Mahalapye West and East candidacies  respectively. 

Messrs Buti Billy and Ignatious Moswaane retained their parliamentary seat candidacy of Francistown East and West respectively. 

Mr Moswaane sailed through with 1 408 votes, followed by Mr Godfrey Mpuang with 367 while Mr Samuel Kealotswe gained 539.  

Other candidates were Mssrs Joseph Totego with 348, Kego Phofuetsile with 96 and Colenius Gopolang with 103.

Meanwhile, Francistown East constituency saw the incumbent Mr Billy winning the primary elections with a total vote of 1 312 against Mr James Kgalajwe’s 785.

Mr Simon Mavange, who is BDP’s Youth League president,  clinched Tati West constituency candidacy with 2 519 votes while the incumbent Mr Biggie Butale came second with 2 022.

Mr Tirelo Mukokomani finished third, pocketing 268 votes whereas the only woman in the race, Ms Ruth Nyathi came last with 48 votes.  ENDS