08 Oct 2017

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate Mr Katholo Tapologo has won Tshimoyapula-Majwanaadipitse council ward bye-election, garnering 469 votes against 318 of Mr Modala Modala of the

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and 63 of an independent candidate, Ms Chibuya Dabutha.

The bye-election followed the demise of the then BDP councillor, Mr Mosarwe Leposo in July this year.

In 2014 general elections, Mr Leposo was voted by 611 against Mr Modala’s 342 where a total of 999 of the 1 223 registered voters casted their votes.

In the recent bye-election, a total of 861 voters cast their vote where only 10 ballot papers were rejected against 46 of 2014 general elections.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Tapologo promised to serve his electorate as per the promises he put before them during the campaigns.

Though it appeared his win did not surprise him, Mr Tapologo accepted the results and indicated that his win was just a matter of time.

Mr Modala was honorable in accepting defeat and said his performance at a BDP stronghold was satisfactory.

He however expressed disappointment with the independent candidate whom he said contributed by splitting votes.

Independent candidate, Ms Dabutha was not readily available for comment.

The returning officer, Mr Terrence Ntalabgwe said all the polling stations opened and closed on time.

He said there were some minor problems that were sorted out immediately during the voting process.

The six polling stations opened at 630 am and closed at 7pm. Only one polling station of Shashane recorded no voters.

Initially there were only six voters registered for 2014 general elections.

Meanwhile, campaign managers of the three parties had indicated the need to win every ward available.

In order to successfully win a ward, managers believed that a party had to deploy human resource and capital to woo voters unto their side.

BDP’s Mr Solomon Dikgang said that though he did not have figures immediately his budget was high for both food and fuel.

The budget was in place to necessitate traversing between Majwanaadipitse and Tshimoyapula more especially since the terrain could hardly permit them to reach out to other places.

Mr Dikgang conceded that politics was expensive and as such had to deploy about six vehicles at the ward at a total of about P15 000 budget for fuel.

He said together with his foot soldiers, they spent over P7 500 on food for the entire time they spent at the ward excluding meat which he said was mostly donations from well-wishers.

UDC’s Mr Reggie Koee said that excluding the four cattle they slaughtered since setting foot at the ward, the party spent over P30 000 canvassing for support though he highlighted that some funds could not be accounted for since they were donations from some members.

He believed their campaign was expensive since his party could not match the ruling BDP for resources.

Mr Koee had hoped that the party would clinch the seat and force the BDP to work hard for every seat in the coming 2019 general elections.

He said many of the council wards were winnable provided they selected the right personnel and channeled resources where they were needed.

Mr Koee said that the P30 000 budget was a meager sum but noted that they had managed to reach out to the intended populace.

The independent candidate’s campaign manager, Mr Akanyang Letsweletse said that their campaign was expensive and hectic yet with minimal resources.

He said that Ms Dabutha had deployed all that she had to the campaign.

He said unlike the resourced BDP and UDC, his candidate struggled for support from external sources save from family members and few supporters.

Although he did not read much into the results, Mr Letsweletse said Ms Dabutha was work in progress and was building a relationship with the  electorate towards 2019.

Mr Letsweletse felt that the ward needed a woman of Ms Dabutha’s standing and encouraged other women to join the battle. ENDS