12 Feb 2017

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) retained the Rasesa council ward following the bye- election on Saturday (February 11).
Mr Daniel Molokwe of the BDP garnered 664 votes against 541 of Mr Tshenolo Buisanyang of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and there were only four spoilt votes leading to a total of 1 209 votes.
The ward fell vacant after the death of the former councillor Ms Seasebeng Monyake who passed away in a car accident late last year.
The winner Mr Molokwe could not hide his joy as he was being congratulated by his fellow democratic members.
He said in an interview that he was grateful for the people of Rasesa who voted for him and believed in him that in the next two and half years he would serve them well.
He said this meant that his assignment to lead the people had started and he had to complete the projects which the BDP had made for Batswana.
Mr Molokwe also said he had been humbled by the trust they had shown adding further that he  would not treat his BCP counterpart as an enemy and he would like to work with him going forward.
He said after a vigorous campaign, it was time that they came together and begin to work towards the development of the village.
Mr Molokwe reiterated his statement to work with the youth and help them benefit from government programmes.
Speaking on behalf of the BCP candidate, MP for Selebi Phikwe West Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said they accepted the results and wished the BDP well.
He said they had put up a good fight together with their partners the Umbrella for Democratic Change though they could not win.
Mr Keorapetse said they had learned from their challenges and problems they had encountered among them being the rainy season during which some voters had gone to the fields.
He also said lack of resources hadalso hampered them, so they had shortage compared to the BDP who have enough resources adding this could have led to their loss.
The returning officer Mr Mompoloki Mochanang said the candidates had accepted the outcome.
He said prior to the bye election all stakeholders were brought in and trained on what was expected of them.
Mr Mochanang said publicity was carried out including education for school children who were engaged so that they could remind their parents about the bye election.
He concluded that everything had gone well during the bye election including the opening and closure of the polling stations.