Despite divisions at the top hierarchy of Botswana’s main opposition party, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), councillors in North West and Okavango districts have united in a common cause to stop the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from taking over control of the newly established district councils.
While in the North West, Kebareeditse Ntsogotho and Lekonne Masoko retained the Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship by defeating BDP with 19 to 10 votes each, in Okavango, BDP’s Lesedi Boy lost the chairman position to UDC’s Gaopalelwe Ronald.
The Deputy Chairperson position was won by UDC’s Mpoke Karapo who beat BDP’s Lelejwang Sokwe.
Boy was elected the chairman of the then sub district a few months ago before it was changed into a full district.
While UDC alleges it spat in the eyes of the BDP and refused to be bought, BDP maintains it never attempted to use money to buy votes.
“There was no cash involved in anyway, We didn’t seek any votes from the Maun elections. It was solid to our number; ten each election. Similarly in Okavango the deputy position election went to a three times draw until a tossing stage,” explained BDP Regional chairperson, Reaboka Mbulawa who was in particular accused of trying to buy the votes in a desperate move to put back BDP in control of the council.
In Okavango, both BDP and UDC have an equal number of nine councillors and Ronald was elected by ten, leaving BDP with eight ballots.
This meant that one of the BDP councillors voted for UDC and Mbulawa admits: “Well we lost the Okavango chairman seat because one of our councillors voted with the opposition. If he was paid we are still going to investigate, but surely the results say there was coercive action involving cash and this was allegedly done by the opposition in Okavango.”
Nonetheless Mbulawa maintains that despite the loss, his party is on the road to flip the numbers in BDPs favour come 2024. “We never use money to buy votes, but what they should know is that they’ll have to enjoy the seat while it lasts because next year we are taking back what’s ours.”
Meanwhile Maun West member of Parliament who is a UDC member, Dumelang Saleshando says his party will never stoop so low and buy elections.
“In the past we got wind that BDP paid some councillors to vote for them and that is how they managed to get control of the council. This time around we encouraged our councillors to caucus and come to an agreement and we are glad they did that,” explained Saleshando.
He further maintained that it is obvious that BDP councillors voted with UDC. “He probably had confidence in our candidate than that of BDP, but whatever happened we are glad with the outcome. The Deputy chairman was decided by a spin of the coin, would they say the one who was conducting the toss was also bought,” he wondered.
