12 Jan 2020

An independent candidate, Mr Lebitso Merementsi, has won Shoshong constituency’s Kodibeleng/Otse ward during elections held this weekend.

 The elections came about after a 525-votes tie between Mr Merementsi and Umbrella for Democratic Change’s Mr Leaname Seakelo during the general elections last October, binding the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to call fresh elections.

Mr Merementsi garnered 641 votes, Botswana Democratic Party candidate Mr Eraletse Modise got 546 votes whilst  Mr Seakelo and another independent candidate Mr Christopher Nyatsego trailed behind with 508 and 299 votes respectively.   Twenty five votes were spoilt.

Accepting the results Mr Merementsi thanked residents of Ikongwe, Kodibeleng and Otse for giving him the opportunity to represent them.

He said there was a lot that needed to be done in the ward to improve the lives of people residing in the three villages adding that Otse primary school toilets had not been functioning for a very long time and he had to see to it that the council maintained the toilets.

The returning officer Mr Peter Moalosi stated that the elections went well and thanked the candidates and voters for their cooperation with elections officers.

He said all the seven polling stations in the ward opened and closed on time resulting in ballot boxes from other areas arriving on time at the counting centre.

The IEC’s Chief Elections Officer for Mahalapye region Mr Molatlhegi Baloi said the commission registered 2677 voters but only 2020 cast their vote.

He encouraged Batswana to take elections seriously and exercise their right to vote whenever required to do so.

Mr Baloi said developments come as a result of voting hence electorates should understand the importance of voting.

He said IEC made efforts to conduct voter education by holding kgotla meetings in the villages but they were poorly attended.

Efforts to contact other candidates were futile. ENDS