Kenneth Banda
19 March 2008
The Botswana National Front (BNF) has unveiled its parliamentary and council candidates for Selebi Phikwe West constituency as the battle for political leverage rolls out ahead of the 2009 general election.
The opposition party unveiled seven council and one parliamentary candidate at a press briefing held at Bosele Hotel on Monday evening.
Moeti Mohwasa, the party's publicist, will lead the team to wrestle the constituency from incumbent Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Member of Parliament, Kavis Kario.
This will be the first time that Mohwasa would be having a shot at the parliamentary seat.
Khumiso Baasako will contest in the opposition Botswana Congress Party's (BCP)held Tlhakadiawa ward, while Rose Motlhwa will stand in Leseding. Nicholas Motiki will have another go at Hospital Ward after he failed in his last bid in 2004. Solomon Marumo will stand in Sesame Kagiso while Kebatlhogetse Kesetsekae will fancy his chances in Sesame South. Seosenyeng Letshwiti is the party's council candidate in Kagiso Bontleng with Mejews Bagaetsho Bome standing in Kopano ward.
The majority of the candidates will be contesting the elections for the first time except Motiki and Baasako.
Mohwasa said the BNF believed that the team has enough arsenal to carry the party through.
After an impressive performance in the 1994 elections in which the opposition party virtually swept all council and parliamentary seats, the BNF experienced a dip in fortunes in subsequent polls. This was attributed to the 1998 Palapye split that gave birth to BNF's nemesis, the BCP.
BNF does not have a councillor in Phikwe and it is hoping to turn the situation around in the next election.
BNF Phikwe West Vice chairperson, Keiphithe Keakeditswe says the party was unveiling its candidates as part of preparations for next year's elections.
"We are here to introduce our candidates as a sign that we are serious about winning next year's election," Keakeditswe said.
Mohwasa said the constituency believes that it is crucial to introduce the candidates to the media.
He appealed to the media to be fair in its reporting saying this did not translate to canvassing for favourable reporting of his party's activities.
Phikwe West chairperson, Mompati Masilo said they were confident that they had assembled a capable team.
"We believe we have the right candidates who can ably represent the party and the constituency. People have been complaining that Phikwe is not developing, this is down to poor leadership," he said, adding that the BNF was prepared to change this once its candidates are elected.
Basaako was confident that the BNF will do well in the coming general elections despite a tepid performance in 2004.
Mohwasa also expressed optimism that BNF would turn the tables and regain Phikwe.
"What we have to appreciate is that most voters are fence sitting and they want politicians to give reasons why they should vote for us. I don't think we are short of reasons," Mohwasa said.
He said the BNF would unleash a campaign strategy which is people centred "and it will touch their lives in all aspects".
"We have to excite the voter and in that way you might see a change in our campaign tactics. We have to explore new routes," Mohwasa said.
Motiki said the BNF would ride on the stability that exists in the party's constituency structures. He said the BNF has enjoyed tranquillity unlike its main rivals, the BDP and the BCP.
He said it was imperative that the BNF gets its campaign off the block right away ahead of its rivals.
Motiki said people were disillusioned with the BDP and BCP councillors in Phikwe, adding that this would work in their favour.
Mohwasa was quick to point that since candidates were elected through consensus, this did not mean inner party democracy had been stifled.
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