19 Dec 2021

The weekend council by-elections saw the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leading with six out of the eleven council wards.

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won three wards, Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) won a seat each.

The UDC, represented by Mr Oliver Nyatseng, retained Nkange North in the Nkange constituency, with 549 votes against BDP’s Ms Sophinah Tafila, who was voted by 265 people. Independent candidate, Mr Enerst Changate got 95 votes.
Out of 1723 eligible registered voters only 922 turned up to vote while 13 votes were rejected. Mr Malaki Maphale of the UDC won motokwe-Tsetseng council ward in the Takatokwane constituency with 826 votes against the BDP’s Mr Olebogeng Dikomane, who got 690 votes.

A total of 2 227 eligible voters had registered in the 2019 elections, but only 1 527 turned up to vote in the by-election. Twelve votes were spoilt.

The ward was previously held by the BDP. Ms Keitirile Motsumi of the UDC won Lorolwane ward in Mmathethe-Molapowabojang constituency with 380 votes against the BDP’s Ms Boitumelo Seakgo who registered 237 votes and the BPF’s Ms Dodo Tsiripane BPF who was voted by 176 people.

A total of 793 people voted against an expected 1 292 eligible voters in the ward that was previously held by BDP. Fifteen votes were spoilt.

 Mr Gomolemo Gouwe of the UDC won Boseja South ward in Mochudi East constituency with 812 votes, beating the BDP’s Mr Tebogo Ntshole who garnered 444 votes.

A total of 1 262 people turned up to vote against an expected 2 864 eligible voters who registered in the 2019 elections. Six ballots were rejected.

The UDC’s Mr Kgotlaetsile Bantatetse garnered 604 votes to win Ga-Molopo ward in the Good Hope-Mabule constituency with 604 votes against BDP’s Mr Tebogo Moacwi who received 253 votes and the BPF’s Ms Botlhapile Keogotsitse who got 191 votes.

Over 2 300 people had registered to vote, but only 1 062 turned up to vote with 14 rejected ballots. The UDC also retained Khwee ward in the Boteti East constituency under the representation of Mr Mothusi Molodi who got 425 votes against the BDP’s Mr Chamme Kelebekae who was voted by 258 votes.

 A total of 17 ballots were spoilt. Only 700 of the ward’s 1341 registered voters cast their votes.

In the Gabane-Mankgodi constituency’s Metsimotlhabe ward, Mr Moremi Dingalo retained the ward under the BDP ticket garnering 334 votes against AP’s Mr Keaoleboga Moamogwe who was voted by 315 people, and two independent candidates, Ms Neo Kgope and Mr Kutlwano Rathari who garnered 66 and 19 votes respectively.

Seven ballots were rejected.

A total of 2 598 people had registered in the 2019 election, but only 741 voted in the bye-election.

The BDP, represented by Mr Lentswe Mosanako also retained Moshupa East in the Moshupa-Manyana constituency with 451 votes against UDC’s Mr Makgobola Monametsi who was voted by 326 people.

A total of 786 people cast their vote with nine rejected votes from a total 3 375 eligible voters who make up the ward.

 The ruling party also snatched the Tumasera-Seleka council seat in the Sefhare-Ramokgonami constituency from UDC through Mr Tumisng Batwaaetse who got 784 votes against UDC’s Mr Mogodi Seitsemo’s 585 votes; Botswana Movement for Democracy’s Mr Onalethata Ramolelo with 78 votes and independent candidate, Mr Dikakanyo Dithebe’s 76 votes.

A total of 10 ballots were rejected.

Only 1279 people cast their vote against an expected 2765 registered voters. Mr Court Tolobu of Alliance for Progressives (AP) won Lentsweletau West ward in the Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency with 405 votes against the BPD’s Mr Rapula Maitewa who got 278 votes. Fifteen votes were rejected.

Only 698 of the expected 1793 registered voters turned up. Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) won Tamasane ward in Mmadinare constituency through Mr David Ikanyeng, with 251 votes.

He beat independent candidate, Mr Okgethile Ditshebo who got 200 votes and, and the BDP’s Mr Motsholathebe Oduetse who was voted by 108 people.

Six ballots were spoilt.

A total of 565 people voted against an expected 925 eligible voters who registered in the previous elections. ENDS