- BDP, BCP, UDC and BPF invade North West for their last lap of campaigns
- North West region has 7 constituencies
- Masisi is on an overdrive mode to wrestle the region from opposition
- Region remains critical to the fortunes of all parties in determining elections outcome
- Any party that presents a better plan to address Ngamiland, Chobe challenges stands a better chance
The North West region, remains critical to the fortunes of all the political parties in determining the outcomes of the upcoming general elections, and even more, for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). The reason being that the region has seven constituencies, from the previous five before the delimitation exercise – and in the previous parliament –four of them were held by the opposition with the exception of Chobe.
All political parties know the importance of North West – which constitutes Maun East, West, North, Ngami, Okavango East, West and Chobe constituencies – and that is the reason for the final push by all parties in the region. For the BDP, the stakes have never been any higher, as it pushes to reclaim the region.
After all, and sundry has been done, following the Presidential Debates held yesterday in Gaborone, North West will take centre stage – turning into a heated political battleground as the BDP, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) leadership invade the area for their last laps of campaigns ahead of the upcoming general elections.
With few days remaining before Batswana heads to the polls on October 30th, political parties have intensified their campaigns in a bid to sway electorates in an election that many commentators anticipate too close to call – with a possible outcome that may not give an outright majority for any party, particularly the BDP which hopes to retain power.
In fact, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has expressed confidence in his party winning the elections, reiterating that the BDP will get more that the 31 constituencies needed to retain power.
But for that to happen, he even knows that North West region has to be in his bag to win, and that explains Masisi’s visibility in the region over the last year or so. The President has been to the North West for various events – than he has been to other parts of the country over the last year or two.
Masisi, who is on an overdrive mode to wrestle the region from opposition, will make first stop after last night’s debate in Maun where he is this morning commissioning the water project and as expected, this will be followed by a BDP Star rally in Maun this afternoon. For the next three days, Masisi will be changing dress codes between formal for official engagements and party regalia for political rallies.
On Saturday, Masisi is expected to address a Kgotla meeting in Gumare, followed by groundbreaking of government projects, which will also be followed by a BDP star rally in the area. The party’s chairman, Slumber Tsogwane will also reportedly lead another mega star rally in Okavango the same weekend.
Masisi will then head to Chobe, where he will commission the water sanitation project, commission an electric boat, before shifting to the BDP regalia for another star rally. All these weekend activities are reportedly the last agendas on Masisi’s political schedule in the North West region before the general elections.
Hot on the heels of Masisi, the BCP’s presence in Maun will be heavy tommorow, with the launch of its Maun North parliamentary candidate and Party President Dumelang Saleshando. The launch is expected to be a huge event for the party in the region – to canvass for votes come Wednesday next week. The launch will reportedly comprise of other robust political activities such as a motorcade and house-to-house campaigns lead by the party leadership.
UDC president, Duma Boko is expected in Maun on Sunday to do the damage control of the presence of both the ruling party and BCP through hosting another anticipated massive star rally. The event follows UDC’s Maun Tsharologa Tour which continued the countrywide motorcades pleading for votes from electorates.
This Sunday rally is expected draw the region’s UDC supporters for the final message from their leader ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, BPF patron and also former president, Ian Khama is expected in Maun again to launch their Maun East parliamentary candidate, Molatedi Molato after their initial one flopped. Khama failed to show up for the launch of Molato who is their only parliamentary candidate in Maun with the latter citing security concerns as reasons for their patron’s no show. BPF council candidates alongside their parliamentary candidate, Molato are also busy working the ground and making inroads in an effort to secure a win come October 30, 2024 when Batswana head to the polls.
The presence of all the party leaders in the region is indicative of its importance in their fortunes; and pundits have posited that issues of the Ngamiland and Chobe regions are similar, and whoever presents a better plan to address the stands a better chance. Issues of unemployment, poverty, human wildlife conflicts, livestock diseases and shortage of water supply reign supreme in the region.
In Chobe, BDP’s Luckson Likokoto will phase Victor Liwena of the UDC, BCP’s Simasiku Mapulanga, Simwanza Rakaru of the BPF as well as the independent candidate, Sinka Kachana. Maun East the contenstants are Oateng Sethodi (BDP), Goretetse Kekgonegile (BCP), Molatedi Molato (BPF) and Royal Lekabe (UDC).
Kebareeditse Ntsogotho (UDC), Thato Elias (BDP) and Dumelang Saleshando will contest for the Maun North constituency while contestants for the Maun West constituency are Thato Kwerepe (BDP), Tiego Mpho (UDC) and Carter Hikuama (BCP).
In Okavango East, the battle is between Bagalatia Arone (BDP), Gabatsholwe Disho (BCP) and BPF’s Lentshitse Tsima while Tshenolo Kadonda (BPF), Kenny Kapinga (BCP) and Sekwaya Pikinini of BDP will face off in the Okavango West. Kavis Kario of the BDP, BCP’s Phillimon Aaron and Joseph Matensa of BPF.
