10 Apr 2022

 Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has won the Bophirima ward bye-election with Ms Mankie Sekete garnering 335 votes.

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate, Ms Onkemetse Mothei trailed behind with 245 votes, while the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) candidate Mr Peter Mogapi got only 238 votes.

Of the 1 964 eligible voters only 819 people turned up to cast their votes in Bophirima ward, which fell vacant in December last year, following the death of a BDP councillor, Mr Kagiso Mongwaketse.

In an interview, following the announcement of the results, UDC President Mr Duma Boko applauded his party activists and foot soldiers for a vigorous campaign and working around the clock to secure a UDC victory.

“The results are an expression of unhappiness among Batswana towards the current economic and social status in Botswana and clearly the Bophirima voters had shown that Batswana have confidence on the UDC project,” he said.

Mr Boko said the results were a testimony that UDC presented a revolution of public life and a fundamental transformation of the way of thinking and living that promote a transfer of power from the ruling BDP.

He said despite the discord in the UDC camp, the UDC projects live on and the party leadership is to meet on April 18 in Palapye to map a way forward and find an amicable resolution.

“We have full faith and confidence in the UDC structures and the opposition coalition will definitely live on,” he said.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Sekete applauded all who worked tirelessly in ensuring the UDC victory in Bophirima ward.

“Remember the UDC is a people’s project and the people have spoken and a UDC victory is victory for the people. I therefore commit myself to putting the interest of the people at heart and transforming Bophirima ward,” she said.

Ms Sekete vowed to advocate for all residents of Bophirima irrespective of their party affiliations, adding that fair representation was paramount in the drive to enhance the livelihood of her Bonnington South constituents.

She said the ward remained among the less developed wards under Gaborone City Council hence her call to every resident of the ward to work hand in with their new councillor to bring the much needed developments.

Ms Sekete said Bophirima ward has daunting social ills like alcohol and drug abuse as well as high crime rate which needed an able bodied individual of her calibre to address them.

Meanwhile, Bophirima ward returning officer, Mr Olebile Mafala indicated that voting went smoothly at all polling stations despite the low turn up.

“All our four polling stations being Bophirima Primary School, Gaborone West Junior Secondary School, the  youth center and Tlhabologo Primary school opened well on time at 6.30 am and closed at 7 pm.

“I must admit that voting went well despite a very low turn up particularly in the morning which could be attributed to the heavy rains that we experienced this weekend,” he said.

Mr Mafala noted that some BCP counting officers expressed displeasure with the verification of spoiled votes but the matter was resolved.

In 2019 general elections, the BDP won the Bophirima ward by 731 votes, followed by Ms Sekete of the UDC by 437 votes and Mr Malema Phaladi of Alliance for Progressives (AP) who got 333 votes while an Independent candidate, Mr Petrus Cooper gained 113 votes. ENDS