- Vice branch chair suspended after ballot box was found at her home
- Sekgorororane was known to be a Dikoloti supporter
- Dikoloti expected to quit the BDP later this week
GAZETTE REPORTER
The decision to bar the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, from participating in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries re-run in the Goodhope-Mathethe constituency is reportedly tied to missing ballot boxes that were discovered at the home of suspended branch vice chairperson, Mantsha Sekgorororane.
Contrary to earlier reports that President Mokgweetsi Masisi had proposed recalling both candidates and selecting a new one to represent the party in the general elections, it is understood that the Chairman of the BDP, Slumber Tsogwane, insisted on the Central Committee following the recommendations of the Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC).
Irregularities
This followed the Central Committee (CC) decision to recall Dikoloti as a candidate in the primaries re-run in the Goodhope-Mathethe constituency.
PEEC had found Dikoloti guilty of irregularities during the initial primary election held on 22 July 2024.
According to BDP sources, PEEC recommended that Dikoloti be suspended from the party for 60 days. His alleged involvement was linked to the missing ballot boxes that were discovered at Sekgorororane’s house in Goodhope after the primary election.
These boxes reportedly never reached the counting centres. Consequently, the Central Committee suspended Sekgorororane from the party.
Evidence
“There was no way Sekgorororane could be suspended without any action being taken against Dikoloti,” said a CC member who spoke to this publication on the condition of anonymity. “Evidence showed that Sekgorororane was part of Dikoloti’s campaign team.”
Attempts for a comment from Dikoloti proved futile as his phone rang unanswered yesterday (Tuesday).
The Botswana Gazette is informed that some members of the BDP who were deployed to oversee the 22 July primaries may also face disciplinary action over the ballot boxes.
“Some of them are even part of the CC and various sub-committees,” the source added.
The spokesman of the BDP, Kagelelo Kentse, has told this publication that the decision of the CC was made in the best interests of the party, considering all relevant factors.
Loyal and united
“We can only urge our fellow democrats to remain loyal and united as the party gears up for the general elections,” he said. “We need everyone on board to win the elections.”
Meanwhile, reports say Dikoloti is set to announce his resignation from the BDP later this week. He is said to be considering running as an independent candidate in the same constituency.
Following the BDP’s decision to bar him from running in the primaries re-run, his supporters have reportedly urged him to leave the party and seek an alternative where he would be more welcome.