FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president, Dumelang Saleshando is now highly confident that his party is going to win the Francistown West bye-elections following the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s failure to register the name of their candidate before the 5p.m, November 1st deadline.
Saleshando believes the BDP was the only threat in the constituency going into the bye-elections, but since they have not registered, he foresees an easy battle for the seat.
BDP’s Whyte Marobela had successfully challenged in court Ignatius Moswaane’s victory in the party’s primaries held a fortnight ago and the Lobatse High Court ordered the BDP not to submit the latter’s name until the party’s central committee had decided the former’s appeal on the outcome of the primaries.
This gave the BCP president confidence as he dismissed other contesting parties such as the Umbrella for Democratic Party (UDC). He said that the constituency has been for a long time contested by politicians who have rich background in politics, citing the late Matlhomola Modise who contested under the BCP ticket in the 2009 general elections and the former area Member of Parliament (MP), the late Tshelang Masisi. He said Moswaane is not a suitable candidate. “From long time this constituency has been under leadership that understands politics very well unlike the controversial Moswaane,” he said.
Saleshando said that they are closely monitoring the unfolding reports of the BDP challenging the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). “We have been given the opportunity to win these by-elections, so we have nothing to lose because our victory will determine who will be the Leader of Opposition in the Parliament,” he noted.
Though he believes that they will have an easy assignment in Francistown, he urged members of his party to unite and work hard. “Our candidate is one of the leaders who can add value to Parliament so if we win the seat it will benefit Batswana,” the Gaborone Central MP said.
For her part, Dr Hubona said that since the ruling party has given them the advantage in the constituency, voters should have confidence in sending her to Parliament. “I am a credible candidate who can represent this constituency well so I hope the constituents will vote for BCP,” she said.