- To stand as Independent candidates
- Accuse the party of failing to address their primary elections appeal
- The party in the dark about their resignation
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
FRANCISTOWN: Two Botswana Congress Party (BCP) councillors have dumped the party accusing the leadership of failing to address their primary elections appeals.The two councillors who resigned from the party are councillors in the Ramotswa constituency. The duo Kgabo Mabotseng of Magopane council ward and Mothubakwane councillor Odirile Kalaote, according to a source, handed in their resignation letters this morning to the North East Council Chairman indicating that they will no longer affiliate with any political party. The councillors have been disgruntled following their loss in the recently held primary elections. Following their loss the councillors lodged an unsuccessful appeal. “This is what frustrated the two councillors and prompted them to quit their party. It seems like the councillors did not expect the outcome of the appeal. The appeal board has found that there were no irregularities as the councillors claimed in their appeals,” the source revealed.According to those close to the two politicians, they have indicated that they want to contest the 2019 general elections as independent candidates. “The councillors feel that the party leadership has failed them and the only option they have is to dump the party and stand as independent candidates in 2019 general elections,” emphasized the source.
While Kalaote could not be reached for comment as his phone was unreachable, Mabotseng confirmed the development. “What I can confirm is that indeed it is true I have resigned from the BCP but I cannot talk much because I am currently engaged. For more enquiries you could talk to me later this afternoon,” Mabotse said in an interview.
Though the councillors claimed to have handed resignation letters to the party, the BCP Deputy Secretary General Akanyang Magama said he was unaware of the resignation, when reached for comment. “What I know about those two councillors is that they recently lost the primary elections but as the party we have never received any complaint from them. So I just learnt from you about their resignation,” Magama said in an interview.