- Negotiations ended in a deadlock
- Candidates opt for primary elections
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s proposition that the Francistown South primary elections candidates should reach a compromise and settle for a single candidate has hit a snag as the candidates insist on standing.
Insiders have told The Botswana Gazette three candidates Khumongwana Maoto, Lamodimo Dikomang and the youthful Modiri Jojo Lucas who were registered a fortnight ago have both expressed an equal interest in battling the BMD’s Wynter Mmolotsi instead of honoring the compromise deal by regional leadership which had required that only one of them stand.
“Efforts by the party to settle for a consensus candidate failed as no one was willing to pull back and support the other. All candidates claimed to be preferred by the constituents and capable of wrestling the constituency from the opposition. Therefore, the negotiations ended in a deadlock,” a source close to the development revealed, saying however that the party was likely to open other negotiations allowing for primary elections.
Should the second attempt by the party fail, the source says candidates will be screened and vetted to usher in a candidate preferred by the party.
Reached for comment Francistown Regional Chairman Baemedi Medupi confirmed the meeting noting that all the three candidates believe that BDP members want to decide their preferred representative for the 2019 general elections. “I can only confirm that we as the regional leadership held a meeting with both candidates but for now I cannot shed more about the details of what transpired because this is an internal process,” he said.
Medupi said as things stand, the party will have to vet and determine a candidate. “If all the candidates pass the vetting process the party will go for primary elections.”