Botswana National Front (BNF)’s prominent legislator Abraham Kesupile lost at the weekend in the ongoing primary elections that are held across the country.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Kanye South was defeated by Victor Phologolo who garnered 1078 votes against the former’s 799 votes. Kesupile, who was looking for a third term, has been the area MP for 10 years. Kanye South is considered a BNF stronghold.
Another candidate Tiroyaone Khutlo got 661 votes. Botswana National Front (BNF) Youth League Secretary Osenotse Mabote received 416 votes. The primaries were initially slated for July 1st but were delayed until they were held at the weekend.
Reports indicate that the primaries for Kanye South could have been announced in June, but there were no announcements pending a logical conclusion of all impending issues that include written complaints by some disgruntled candidates.
It is reported that this resulted in other wards going for reruns at the weekend.
Election committee member Tapiso Kgosikoma was quoted as saying that “This is the final results for Kanye South. The wards that went for reruns are the ones that had complaints from both candidates. We had only one parliamentary election last week.”
He said another ward, which called for a rerun was Boribamo ward from Molepolole South constituency, which its election was ordered to stop after they realised that the name for another candidate was not on the ballot paper.
However, the election was won by Isaiah Mogome with 134 votes, Kgalalelo Mosege got 84 votes and 67 electorates voted for Kgosi Tladi. Borakalalo ward did not go for election as another candidate withdrew and the current councillor Arafat Khan was unchallenged.
Meanwhile in other primaries held recently, incumbent Molepolole North MP, Mohammed Khan will represent the party after winning by 705 votes against his opponent, Kaboyaone Sedimo’s 258 votes, with two council wards still outstanding.
Former permanent secretary in the then Ministry of Agriculture, Micus Chimbombi will represent the Umbrella for Democratic Change in next year’s general elections in the Kgalagadi South constituency.
He won the primary elections by 1 485 to 797 of former MP, John Toto.
