03 Apr 2022

Botswana Congress Party President Mr Dumelang Saleshando says he has no doubt in mind that Mr Peter Mogapi is the rightful council candidate for Gaborone West’s Bophirima ward. 

He said this Friday, when officially launching Mr Mogapi for Bophirima ward by-election scheduled for April 09. 

Regarding allegations the BCP was violating the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) memorandum of agreement by fielding a candidate in the Bophirima ward, Mr Saleshando said the reverse was true. 

He argued the choice of the UDC preferred candidate in the Bophirima bye election was done in bad faith and in violation of clause 13 of the UDC constitution. 

“Clause 13 of the UDC constitution mandates the party National Executive Committee to meet prior to every election to decide on the ward allocation and the preferred candidate, and I can assure you as the UDC Vice President that the NEC never met, hence the nomination of Ms Mankie Sekete as UDC candidate is unlawful and contradicts the UDC constitution,” he said. 

Mr Saleshando said that the BCP was the rightful party to represent the opposition bloc in the ward since it was assigned the party ahead of the 2019 general elections. 

It had merely acceded to a request for Ms Sekete to contest in the ward following her defection from the BMD to the BNF out of courtesy as she was a specially elected councilor at the time. 

The current discord in the UDC, he said, was a litmus test for the opposition coalition’s compliance to their constitution. 

“Bophirima ward is about revealing the truth and honesty in the UDC agreement,” he said. 

He however expressed delight over the BCP and Alliance for Progressives cooperation in the ward and expressed optimism that they would capture the ward from the BDP. 

“I am adamant that our coalition with the AP will yield positive result not only in this upcoming by-elections but also in liberating Batswana from the claws of the ruling party,” he said. 

Similarly, AP President Mr Ndaba Gaolathe said the AP upon further reflection and engagement with other opposition parties decided to yield its contention for the ward and fully rally behind the BCP candidate. 

Mr Gaolathe called on all parties in the UDC coalition to find an amicable solution to their differences and strive towards the realisation of a new Botswana. 

When giving his acceptance speech, Mr Mogapi uttered his readiness to contribute towards the betterment of his ward. 

“Bophirima is one of the poorly serviced wards in Gaborone with a higher poverty rate. It takes a determined representative like me to turn the fortunes of this ward around and ensure that we eliminate the social ills that affect us all,” he said. ends