Oarabile Mosikare
31 March 2008
Francistown — The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has confirmed that its chairperson, Batisani Maswibilili, will not stand as a parliamentary candidate in Nkange constituency next year.
Instead, Decreanor Dwililani Mangubo has been confirmed as the BCP candidate for the constituency.
"Yes, I can confirm that Batisani Maswibili did not put up his name for consideration as a parliamentary candidate for Nkange constituency when such was done for category one constituencies in August of 2007. As a party leader and veteran, we would have very much appreciated his candidature in Nkange but he has advanced compelling personal reasons for his unavailability to stand for elections and we have accepted," disclosed BCP secretary general Taolo Lucas.
Maswibilili still remains the chairman of the BCP. Lucas has allayed fears that the new candidate will be hard to sell to Nkange voters. There are reports that Maswibilili's unavailability is a set back to the BCP in Nkange.
Lucas explained that Mangubo has satisfied all requirements to be a candidate and he passed the vetting test without any difficulties. He said Mangubo joined the BCP when he retired from the civil service where he worked as a high-ranking wildlife officer. Lucas stated that Mangubo was elected to the deputy chairpersonship of the constituency two years ago and later assumed chairmanship when the substantive chair was granted leave to concentrate on other pursuits. "As chairperson, Mangubo has guided the Nkange constituency well and his experience in the civil service has proved useful in party administration in Nkange," said Lucas. He described Mangubo as a "strategic thinker" who has quickly grasped the dynamics of politics. He said with the assistance of Maswibilili, he will be a formidable candidate.
"Nkange is one of the constituencies that we have targeted to win. We remain steadfast and resolute in our determination to win Nkange. We believe with hard work, proper planning and our cooperation with Botswana Alliance Movement, we can wrestle the constituency from the BDP and so we shall," Lucas said. He added that in a few weeks, the party leadership will hold a series of indoor and public meetings in selected constituencies including Nkange to review preparations for the 2009 elections in those constituencies. Mangubo was unavailable for comment at press time.
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