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Botswana: BCP Rearing to Go for Primaries
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
28 February 2008
Posted to the web 28 February 2008
Oarabile Mosikare
Francistown
Following the completion of primary elections for the first 14 constituencies at the close of 2007, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) will hold second batch of primary elections on April 5 and 6.
BCP secretary general, Taolo Lucas says the primary elections will cover 21 constituencies.
Some of these constituencies include Francistown West, Francistown East, Tswapong South, Tswapong North, Tonota North, Kweneng South East, South East North, Gaborone West North, Gaborone West South, Gaborone South and Kweneng South.
"All potential candidates are expected to submit their applications to contest the primary elections by February 29. Then vetting will start. Elections will be held on April 5 and 6," said Lucas.
He also said that BCP/BAM electoral alliance is contesting four of the five by-elections in March.
Already they have launched James Olesitse as the parliamentary candidate for Palapye and Diphetogo Maswabi for Marulamantsi ward, Gaborone West South constituency.
BCP has divided constituencies into three. The first category consists of prime constituencies that the party is going all out to win. The second category consists of constituencies they have the chance of winning. The category three constituencies are where the party wants to build a base. Lucas said there are few wards they are targeting to win.
On March 1, the BCP president, Gil Saleshando and BAM officials will launch Katumavandu Tuvare in Bodibeng-Bothatogo and Lucas will launch Aaron Manyala at Mokwena in Serowe South.
"The campaigns in Palapye and Marulamantsi are in full swing and our cadres are working around the clock to deliver victory to the BCP-BAM electoral alliance.
"In Bodibeng, Bothatogo and Mokwena wards, the campaigns are beginning to gain momentum and after the launches on March 1, we will go full throttle in these campaigns," says Lucas.
"I can state upfront that we will compete very strongly in these by-elections. As you might be aware, the BCP's performance in the by-elections has been excellent since 2004. We have wrestled three council wards that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been winning since independence. We wrestled Ramotswa Central, Bobirwa North East and Mmopane," he continued.
He says the BCP will not contest the Kgalagadi North parliamentary by-election and they encourage their members to support the Botswana National Front (BNF) in that constituency.
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"We note with disappointment the failure of the BNF to appreciate our gesture but we still feel that the decision we took is in the best interest of democracy," he says.
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