28 Jun 2018

Botswana National Front (BNF) will this weekend hold its second batch of primary elections in various constituencies around the country.

In an interview, the elections preparations overseer, Ms Violet Chimela stated that the elections would be held in eight constituencies being Letlhakeng-Lephepe, Takatokwane, Kanye South and North, Kgalagadi South and North, Mmathethe-Molapowabojang as well as Molepolole North.

She said the elections were the second batch after holding their first primaries in the past weekend, and that the last batch of constituencies would conduct its primaries in the weekend of August 25.

“Preparations of ballot papers was completed yesterday and some have already been disbursed especially to far-flung constituencies whose villages are hard to reach. This was done to enable the ballot papers to reach those areas at least by Friday morning,” she said.

Ms Chimela said that they could not send the ballot papers any earlier as they were a very delicate issue, and appealed to party members to come to the polls in large numbers as primary elections were very important  in preparing the party for the general elections next year.

For his part, the Letlhakeng-Lephepe elections committee chairperson, Mr William Moalosi indicated that so far all preparation towards the elections were going smoothly in his constituency.

“We do not have any hiccups at this moment and we are very confident that come Saturday, the elections will go as planned. We have two parliamentary candidates and the ward's election will be held in six out of the eight wards we have in the constituency because Sojwe ward has been allocated to the BCP, while at Boatlaname-Loologane, the candidate is unopposed,” he said.

Mr Moalosi also appealed to all party members to come in large numbers to elect candidates that they believed could best represent the party at the national elections next year.

“This is their chance to make a choice, and we would like to appeal to them to come in numbers. Our polling stations will be open from 6am to 6pm and the counting centre for parliamentary candidates would be done at Mphuthe junior in Letlhakeng while that for council candidates would be done at the respective wards,” he said.

The parliamentary candidates for Letlhakeng-Lephepe constituency are the current Ngware councillor, Mr Ontatlhile Selatlho and former Malwelwe ward councillor, Mr Agisanyang Ramotswai.

At Takatokwane constituency, a three horse race is expected between Messrs Ellson Baeletsi, Boingotlo Moeng and former Letlhakeng West legislator, Mr Filbert Nagafela.

The constituency has a total of six council wards and all are expected to hold their primaries except Salajwe whose candidate stands unopposed. ENDS