Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
13 October 2008
When he lost to Dikgakgamatso Seretse in the 2003 Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries in Serowe North East, Kgotla Autlwetse did not know that five years down the line he would borrow from his opponent's strategies to try and win the constituency.
Back then, Seretse had faired badly in the primaries against Autlwetse. But there was a certain council ward, Tshimoyapula, where a fracas occurred. A ballot box burst open, spilling its contents after it was kicked in the chaos that ensued.
The council candidate for the area and Seretse appealed the results. A re-run was ordered and Seretse turned the tables on Autlwetse and won the primaries. Now Autlwetse has borrowed a leaf from his opponent's book and the 2004 scenario is likely to repeat itself. There might be a rerun in the constituency acccording to new information from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) headquarters last week.
Autlwetse and four other council candidates have appealed results from Topisi where there was a fracas on polling day after some voters were barred from taking part in the primaries. About 1,000 voters were affected and the chaos that ensued forced the police to close the polling station as early as 1pm.
Autlwetse has adopted a two-pronged approach in his appeal. His first appeal against the constituency results was thrown out by the BDP regional committee. In the other appeal, Autlwetse and three other council candidates, Boitshwarelo Artie, Dithebe Thapelo and Isaac Maforaga have protested the results at Topisi ward.
BDP executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema says that the Topisi ward appeal remains unresolved, after the regional committee passed it to the Central Committee. The BDP Appeals Committee headed by Isaac Seloko has sent the matter back to the regional committee for determination.
Serema said when they referred the matter to the Central Committee, the Serowe regional committee said they could not handle the case because the appeal involves so many people. But the Central Committee has thrown back the hot potato to the regional committee headed by Bafana Motseothata as chairman and Prince Moitoi as secretary.
On Friday, Moitoi confirmed the matter has been sent back to them and they will meet to determine the hearing date. Serema said the BDP constitution stipulates that the matter should be dealt with in 30 days.
Meanwhile Shoshong MP, Duke Lefhoko who lost to former Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Phillip Makgalemele by less than 40 votes will know today if his appeal is successful. He appealed against the regional committee's ruling, which said he did not have valid reasons for the appeal.
A recount has been ordered in Francistown West where Peter Ngoma and Sylvia Muzila hope to reverse incumbent Tshelang Masisi's victory. Letsweletse Mathape, a parliamentary candidate in Bobirwa was not successful in his bid to challenge the incumbent Shaw Kgathi's victory as his appeal has been thrown out. Tswapong South MP, Oreeditse Molebatsi is safe after Segaetsho Garekwe's appeal was thrown out while Tebelelo Seretse's case in Serowe South has been referred back to the regional committee.
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