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Botswana: Molefhabangwe Prevails
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
21 April 2008
Posted to the web 21 April 2008
Oliver Modise
Robert Molefhabagwe looks ready for combat with Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) Botsalo Ntuane in the Gaborone West South parliamentary constituency in the next general elections due in 2009. Molefhabangwe emerged the winner in his absence, beating Moses Bantsi, his party's Organising Secretary, in BNF primaries held over the weekend.
The incumbent MP polled 507 votes to Bantsi's 401. The dark horse in the tussle, Gomolemo Mosweunyane, polled 60 votes. Polling stations were closed at 7pm on Saturday, and the results announced at 9 o' clock Sunday morning at Bophirima Primary School after a little confusion stemming from the failure of polling agents in some wards to tally the ballots and complete related paperwork. Although the constituency has five wards, Molefhabangwe's victory is attributed mainly to Mosekangwetsi where he scored a thumping 208 votes, thanks to the efforts of incumbent councillor Andrietta Makaka who led Molefhabangwe's campaign.
Makaka herself trounced her challengers after polling 182 votes to Chandapiwa Maphakela's 64 and Moletanyi Koketso's 31 in the same ward for council elections.
Mosekangwetsi was a tragic irony for Bantsi who, together with Gibson Kgosimang, had been running way ahead of Molefhabangwe before polling stations were closed on Saturday. Kgosiemang beat Gaborone City Mayor Harry Mothei by 76 votes to Mothei's 48. At Bophirima Ward, Bantsi got 119 votes while Molefhabangwe got 70. The ward's incumbent councillor, Malema Phaladi, was hammered by 'grassroots' politician Charles Pilediwa who attracted 123 votes.
In the end, Bantsi's victory at the closely contested Morula Ward did not give him any edge over Molefhabangwe. There Bantsi had polled 169 votes while Molefhabangwe came behind with 164.
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The BNF's council candidate for Morula is Obusitswe Montwedi while the party's candidate for Kgale View is Linga Dikokola.
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