- These being Okavango West constituency, Shashe- Botshabelo ward
Only two of the ten primary elections appeals from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) North West Region has been called for a re-run by the party’s Central Committee while the rest did not make a mark to warrant a re-run.
The two according to BDP North West Region chairperson, Judge Sango are the Okavango West constituency as well as the Shashe- Botshabelo ward which is under the Maun West constituency.
For the Okavango West constituency, the central committee has ordered a re-run at the Xhaoga-Kajaja ward but only for the Kajaja polling station. Thereafter, there would be reconciliation of the whole Okavango West constituency to determine the overall winner.
“The new results of that poling station will then be correlated to the results of other wards then the final outcome will be determined,” Sango told this publication. This followed after Akim Setswalo who lost the primary elections to Sekwaya Pikinini securing only 1379 votes against his 1453 votes appealed the outcome.
For the Shashe- Botshabelo Ward, the central committee has ordered a re-run for the entire ward to the excitement of Monei Ndiane who had lodged an appeal after losing the primary elections to his opponent.
Sango indicated that the dates for these re-elections have not yet been set but noted that the BDP’s electoral board which is the one handling the elections is currently busy working on the modality of conducting the re-runs.
Meanwhile, the chairperson could not state how the appellants who were not favored by the central committee’s decision have taken the outcome but said the expectation is for them to accept it and they continue to rally behind those who have won.
“Our belief is that due process was followed and justice has been rendered to each one of the appellant,” he said.
He however indicated that plans have been made by the party to physically engage with those who were not successful in an effort to soothe them. “The engagement has only started as we have just recently received the letters in response to their appeals. We are also doing physical engagements with them as a party but our expectation is they will accept the outcome because there can only be one winner in a contest.”
Entirely, the BDP central committee has ordered a re-run in three constituencies for parliamentary seats being the Goodhope-Mmathethe constituency, Tati-West constituency as well as the Okavango West constituency.
As for council seats, the committee has ordered for re-runs at Khuis ward, Tsabong North ward and Kokotsha ward (Kgalagadi South), Makunda ward (Charleshill), Shashe-Botshabelo ward (Maun West), Boatlaname-Loologane ward, Lentsweletau South (Lentsweletau-Lephephe), Ralekehtho ward (Moshupa-Manyana). Further to that, a re-run has also been called for Mokhomma ward but only at Lefoko poling station (Jwaneng-Mabutsane), Xhaoga-Kajaja Ward but only for Kajaja Poling Station (Okavango West), and a recount for Borakalalo ward (Molepolole North).
