BMD’s Mpuang to represent UDC in F/town West by-election

FRANCISTOWN: After a long wrangle over who will represent the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in the upcoming Francistown West by-election, the combined opposition has finally given the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) councilor, Raoboy Mpuang the green light to contest even though the constituency has been allocated to Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) by the UDC 2014 general elections constituency allocation agreement.

 
The BPP and BMD have been divided amidst suggestions that the youthful Mpuang should be given the green light to contest as he is well known in the constituency. Reports resurfacing from the UDC suggest that the BPP president, Motlatsi Molapise had shown interest to contest the looming by-elections which sought to replace the deceased Botswana Democratic Party Member of Parliament for the constituency, Tshelang Masisi, but the BMD was against the idea insisting that he is old and not sellable.

 
While the constituency belongs to the BPP, the BMD wanted Mpuang to be fielded rather than Molapise, the development which brought divisions. However, Northcast is reliably informed that Molapise pulled back and gave BMD the green light to field Mpuang. According to sources close to the latter, the BPP have been holding a series of meetings to discuss the issue and they finally agreed to give the BMD a chance to try their luck in the by-elections.

 
However, Molapise has refuted reports that he is no longer contesting the constituency. He insisted that the constituency remains under the BPP because it was allocated to them. “What I know is that this constituency belongs to BPP and we are going to contest under the UDC ticket,” he said.

 
Furthermore, he refuted reports that he is the BPP candidate for the constituency, saying that there are currently other three members of the BPP who have shown interest in contesting the by-elections.
Reached for comment, Mpuang could not deny nor confirm if he has been given the green light to contest but only said that the constituents want him. “I am ready should I be given the chance to contest,” he said.