BCP To Assess Phase One Of Primary Elections

…some electoral complaints reported

The Botswana Congress Party’s central committee will this Sunday October 15, meet to assess the outcome of phase one the party’s primary elections held over the past weekend in the wake of reported electoral complaints by some candidates.

BCP has competed its phase one primary elections across nine constituencies, as per their resolution made at their last annual conference, where the party agreed to divide the primary elections into two phases, with phase one focusing on constituencies that have been allocated to the BCP, while candidates from remaining constituencies will be determined in the phase two of the primary elections.

Some candidates were however not happy with the process and outcome of the elections both for the parliamentary and council seats and they are said to have since lodged their complaints with the party structures.

In the Okavango East, two candidates from the Mohembo/Gani council ward have submitted their letters of complaints to the constituency committee chairperson, expressing their displeasure regarding the outcome of the elections for the council seat.

The party’s constituency committee chairperson, Elizabeth Daniel has confirmed this, revealing that 9 candidates participated in the Mohembo / Gani council ward primary elections, which was won by Toyano Thabathaba with 159 votes. The complainants, Owadi Kandonda and Sebera Mokubukubu came second and third with 110 and 108 respectively.

“I have received complaints from the two candidates, and I have sent their letters to the region so that they can be sent to the central committee for assessment and map a way forward,” she told this publication.

Daniel added that though there are some reports of complaints from other candidates, she will treat such as rumors as they have not yet reached her desk.

For her part, BCP publicity and information secretary, Dr Mpho Pheko could not confirm nor deny the reports about complaints from some candidates regarding the elections noting that the central committee will this Sunday 15th meet to assess the outcome of the phase one of the elections and map a way forward for the next phase.

“Right now I am not in the position to answer your question because we have far-reaching constituencies like Okavango where we cannot get the right information immediately but rather wait for all the reports to reach the central committee and secretary general’s office,” she told this publication.

Meanwhile in a press release Pheko congratulated all the candidates for participating in the primary elections and thereby reaffirming the BCP’s commitment to democracy and good governance.  “We encourage all our members including those who failed to be steadfast and remember that all is not lost. As per the BCP ideals, culture and practices, the Party is the greater victor,” she said.

The party has however apologised to all their members who could not vote in some wards, where the polling stations opened later than expected. It also apologised to those who could not vote at all because of the new delimitations which have resulted in relocations to different wards and/or polling stations.

Phase one involved nine parliamentary constituencies being Okavango East, Okavango West, Selibe Phikwe East, Selibe Phikwe West, Kgatleng Central, Ngami, Nkange, Palapye and Gamalete.