17 Aug 2022

A handful braved the cloudy, chilly Tuesday morning to honour a meeting with the Delimitation Commission in Sefhophe.

By observation, seven in ten of them were women, majority of who were clad in checkered blankets (megagolwane) across their shoulders. Almost all of them fitted under the two, knit together, 27-square-metre military green tents from National Disaster Management office.

The military tents, which were initially erected to shield them from the sun, provided warmth for the electorate hailing from as far as Tamasane,  who had come to submit their views to the delimitation commission ledby Justice Mokwadi Gabanagae.

Their submissions were clear and succinct: despite Mmadinare constituency falling below the 41 396 population quota, the constituents called for division of the constituency into two, while a few called for the re-alignment, owing to their 39 791 quota.

The residents cited the vastness of the constituency as one of the factors that ought to be considered in dividing it, while some cited common traditions and tribal lines. Other constituents called for some wards to be transferred to constituencies, from where they were  enjoying administrative services.

“We have to concede that the population quota emasculates our arguments, but our constituency is vast, hence the call for it to be divided into two,” said Mr Seragi Buru of Sefhophe village development committee.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr Buru argued that the distance between Damuchojenaa and Tamasane was so great, it could not be ignored. As such the community submitted that the constituency be divided into Mmadinare North and South.

Mmadinare North would comprise Mmadinare village, Damuchojenaa, Robelela, Tobane, and Tshokwe, with Mmadinare continuing to host the service centre.

Mmadinare South, they suggested, would consist of Sefhophe, Mogapi, Mogapinyana, Kgagodi, Maokatumo, Diloro, Tsetsebjwe, and Moletemane, with Sefhophe being the service centre.

Mogapi VDC chairperson, Mr Gaedupe Mooketsi said that there existed issues of complexities and challenges in rendering services in the Mmadinare constituency.

He said that the area Member of Parliament was challenged in working with councillors, who sit at Bobirwa Sub-council District and others at Palapye Administrative Authority.

Mr Mooketsi said his village advocated for the formation of Mogapi constituency comprising of Mogapi itself, Sefhophe, Kgagodi, Moletemane, Mogapinyana, Tamasane, Diloro, while the other division retains Mmadinare constituency name and comprising of Tshokwe, Damuchojenaa, Tobane, Robelela and Mmadinare villages.

Supporting the calls for division of the constituency was Sefhophe councillor, Mr Christopher Motsholapheko, who argued that villages such as Sefhophe, Mogapi, Mogapinyana, Kgagodi, Diloro and

Tamasane could make a constituency named Sefhophe/Tamasane. He said that it would be easier to unite these wards, since they were on the same side of the Mmadinare constituency and bound by predominantly being Batalaote territories.

“From time immemorial, there existed some peaceful co-existence in these villages that would fall under Sefhophe/Tamasane constituency,” said Mr Motsholapheko.

While some wards called for a division, others submitted that they be transferred preferably to Lerala/Maunatlala or Palapye constituencies, where they draw the majority of services from such as health.

Ms Tirelo Otsetswe of Tamasane VDC said that the people of her ward called for transfer of their ward to Palapye, since they had been serviced in most instances from Palapye and Lerala/Maunatlala constituencies. She said, their ward was actually closer to Palapye than to Mmadinare and Bobonong.

The Diloro constituents called for a transfer to Lerala/Maunatlala, where they continue to enjoy services from, according to VDC chairperson, Ms Godiramang Radinoga.

For Mr Petros Molatlhegi, the Mmadinare constituency needed re-alignment more than formation of another constituency.

He submitted that villages on the southern part of the cordon fence could be divided and transferred to Lerala/Maunatlala and Palapye. ENDS