23 Jun 2019

A Francistown magistrate has struck off the voter’s roll six voters at Kanana Ward in Gerald Estate after the court ascertained they had no principal residence in the area. 

Senior Magistrate Kaveri Kapeko removed Oduetse Jankie, Disang Lupe, Moakofi Stambole, Moakofi Lame, Onkabetse Gaotwesepe and Keatile Makgana from the voter’s roll following objections from Alliance for Progressives (AP) prospective candidate for the ward, Mr Ace Ntheetsang.

Mr Ntheetsang had told the court that the six did not reside in Kanana but had been trafficked to register in the ward. 

He said contrary to Mr Jankie of Jamataka’s claims, Plot 23517 was not his principal residence. 

Magistrate Kapeko advised Mr Jankie to transfer his registration to Jamataka where he presently resided.

Another defendant, Mr Lupe, also failed to satisfy the court that he was indeed a Kanana Ward resident. He had told the court that he had stayed at plot 23527 belonging to one Elijah Oratile for a long time but it emerged that he stayed there on a temporary basis when looking for casual jobs. 

It was a sad day for Mr Stambore who failed to state the name of the person whom he claimed was his grandmother.  He looked around the court but failed to identify the grandmother. 

Mr Stambore was also advised to transfer his registration to his principal residence otherwise he would  not be able to vote to which he responded, “I am not going to vote.”

Mr Lame, who said he only knew his landlord, also his grandmother, by her surname only and referred to her as “Ms Chakalisa”, suffered the same fate. 

He had told the court that Ms Chakalisa was his father’s relative but failed to identify other family members residing in the same compound. 

The court heard that Ditladi was his principal residence and that he only came to town when looking for casual jobs. 

Magistrate Kapeko postponed to Wednesday the case of Ms One Mathule to give the complainant time to bring more evidence. 

Ms Mathule had told the court that she had been staying at Ms Chakalisa’s place since 2012 as a student at Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education. 

She submitted that Ms Chakalisa was her aunt and that she stayed with her while studying at the college for both her certificate and diploma courses. 

However, Mr Ntheetsang objected, saying he knew everyone who was staying at Ms Chakalisa’s place when he was a councillor, prompting the court to call the landlord who confirmed that Ms Mathule was her sister’s daughter.  

She accused Mr Ntheetsang of jealousy.  

Magistrate Kapeko ordered Mr Ntheetsang to bring more evidence including proof from the college that she studied there and that she was present in the ward at registration time. 

He also advised Ms Mathule to bring more evidence or even call witnesses to beef up her case. 

This is not the first time Mr Ntheetsang has succeeded in getting potential voters struck off the roll.

The former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillor for Kanana Ward in the Francistown West constituency left the party before the 2014 general elections after he lost the primary elections and stood as an independent candidate.

He later reconciled with the BDP after former president Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama extended an olive branch to all former members who had left the party after losing the primary elections.

He parted ways with the party last year after suffering another primary election loss to join the newly-formed Aliance for Progressives. Ends