After weeks of uncertainty, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has finally endorsed a local businessman, Moemedi Dijeng as its candidate for Serowe West Constituency’s by elections.
This was confirmed by BDP’s Chairman of Communications, Kagelelo Kentse during a short interview with this publication last Wednesday night. Apparently Prior to deciding on Dijeng as an unopposed candidate, some party members had wanted former Minister Keletso Rakhudu back in the race.
Dijeng has been a perennial election loser having lost the 2019 general elections to former Member of Parliament (MP), Tshekedi Khama who garnered 4394 with Dijeng a distant second with 2405 while Umbrella for Democratic Change’s Roland Kambula came third with 749 and Leremela Bogosing of the Alliance for Progressives trailing far behind with a mere 387 votes.
Dijeng was fielded by the BDP Central Committee after Tshekedi defected to the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) a month before 2019 elections. He had finished second during Bulela Ditswe with Rakhudu in third position.
Dijeng will be up against Onalepelo Kedikilwe of Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and a yet to be named candidate from the Botswana Congress Party. Kedikilwe who was once Serowe West Constituency Office Administrator during Tshekedi Khama’s tenure won the BPF Primary elections with, 443 votes followed by Gaotilwe Omphile with 276, James Kgalajwe in third position with 117, Mokgobolelo Mokgobolelo in fourth with 73 Mmaletlhare Kgosikhumo, 66, Monamodi Bagwasi, 22 and Chimbidzani Chimidza, 8.
The constituency became vacant after Khama was disqualified as MP in April this year because of his failure to attend two consecutive parliamentary sittings from November 2022 up to April 2023 without written leave. Elections will be held on the 8th of July.