Africa-Press – Botswana. The three political parties contesting for the Mapoka/Nlaphkwane/Kgari council seat slated for April 29 say they are ready for the by-election.
Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) launched their candidates this past weekend in massive campaigns in a bid to bag the ward.
The council seat fell vacant after the death of the area Councillor, Mr Farai Bonyongo in February.
BCP campaign manager, Mr Joseph Balise said his party had been on the ground for some time now canvassing voters to vote for Mr Nthomamisi Ndaba.
He said Mr Ndaba had proved to be the suitable candidate for the ward, which he said lagged behind in developments.
He refuted as false, allegations that BCP was still part of the UDC, saying, “We would not be contesting the by-election alone if we were part of the UDC.”
Mr Balise said the fact that BCP was contesting for the by-election was a clear testimony that it was a political entity on its own, legally entitled to contest for any election it wishes to contest for.
BDP branch manager, Mr Jenamiso Jerry vowed that his party would retain the council seat with even a bigger margin than before.
“We are well prepared as we started our campaign very well by orientating our ‘foot soldiers’ and we are still on the ground as we speak,” said Mr Jerry.
He said BDP was selling its candidate, Mr Thomas Chabalala using the Reset Agenda because the party believed that the agenda could bring development and grow the economy.
Mr Jerry further indicated that based on the Reset Agenda and the party manifesto, the BDP was hopeful that electorate in the ward would vote for Mr Chabalala.
Mr Jerry further stated that the other strategy was to mobilise its party elders to recruit more electorate as evidenced by the welcoming of Mr Ndiko Mangina from UDC during the launch of its candidate last weekend.
He pleaded with voters to vote for Mr Chabalala so that the BDP-led government could continue developing Batswana.
For his part, UDC campaign manager, Councillor Mbaakayi Smarts said his party was more than ready to contest for the by-election.
“We have done all that is needed to canvas for support from the electorate to vote for our party, which we believe is the only alternative,” said Councillor Smarts.
Mr Smarts said the fact that it was harvest time and that some had relocated elsewhere could result in voter empathy.
Meanwhile, secretary of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Jefferson Siamisang said preparations for the by-election had been smooth, saying they expected to hold a credible election.
He pleaded with all political parties to make sure that the by-election was a success.
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