17 Nov 2022

Mogoditshane residents are divided on how their constituency should be divided.

Making submissions before the Delimitation Commission at the village kgotla, Tuesday, residents said since the population of the constituency stood at 62 000, far above the 38 000 threshold, the constituency should be split into two.

 However, disagreement was on how it should be divided.

Speakers among them Mr Tshepang Mabaila, Mr Othusitse Rakwadi and Ms Mpho Kelaetse said the A12, Gaborone-Molepolole road should be used as the dividing line between the two constituencies, which would be named Mogoditshane North and Mogositshane South.

This seems to have been the most popular decision as it was backed by Kgosi Solomon Dihutso and the area Member of Parliament Tumiso Rakgare.

However, others such as Ms Poppy Mofolo said dividing the constituency along the road might become a disadvantage for another constituency, should it not have the required number of constituents.

She said population growth should be a guiding factor, and some speakers said Merope and part of Mmopane should be demarcated to the new constituency.

Mr Mmolotso Motlhagodi also said dividing the constituency along the A12 road would not be fair and said the road from Pula Spar to CCC along the road to Gabane should be a dividing factor such that Tsolamosese fell in the envisaged Mogoditshane South constituency.

He said Ledumadumane, Marope and Diagane could help form the Mogoditshane North constituency along with other wards.

Mr Molefe Rantutu said using the Pula Spar road was a noble idea and further noted that Nkoyaphiri South, Nkoyaphiri North and Mogoditshane East and Central were hugely populated, saying   if the A12 road was to be used, only one constituency would be advantaged.

He said Pula Spar road would divide these wards, thereby helping to balance the numbers.

The consensus, however, was that the A12 road be used to split Mogoditshane into two constituencies.

MP Rakgare, however, warned the residents against dividing the constituency using developmental landmarks, saying they were meant to benefit all the residents. ENDS