Africa-Press – Botswana. It was ululations and celebration songs in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) quarters on Saturday as the party’s candidate, Simon Moipolai, won the Ledumadumane East by-election.
In the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) camp, supporters were left licking their wounds and shedding tears as they lost the ward. As the only parties contesting the ward, each had done all there was to campaign and secure the residents of Ledumadumane East’s vote, but in the end, there could only be one winner. UDC took the win with 371 votes while the BDP lost with 281.
There were six spoiled votes. Following his win, Moipolai will fill the post that had fallen vacant after the death of the area councillor, Otlaadisa Kgwatalala. Moipolai told The Monitor after his victory: “This is the turning point of this ward. I am going to advocate for Ledumadumane East without turning back regardless of how they may try to sabotage me as an opposition councillor.
Mma, go utlwisa botlhoko gore kgaolwana ya rona e bo e sena ditlhabololo mme e le mo Mogoditshane. I am going to voice out concerns of Ledumadumane East residents without looking back since our ward is not developed at all. Look at how bad our internal roads are.” He said one of the first items on his mandate is to ensure that he briefs the residents about council issues and plans when it comes to development matters. In addition, he said he will make sure that residents reclaim the community recreational hall, which has been used for a long time by a certain church refusing to hand back the facility to the community. “I am worried by Ramodisane cell; the area is not developed at all.
Internal roads are bad, there is no water and electricity yet people were given residential plots years back. It is time residents are given updates on issues affecting them,” he said. The newly-elected councillor said he is going to preach unity and cooperation in the area as it is the best approach in addressing issues in the area.
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