Following a dismal showing at the just ended Goodhope/Mabule by-election, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has said lack of resources is to blame for the poor results.
Out of 11040 people who casted their vote, BCP was only voted by 385 people meaning they got three percentage of the total votes.
Speaking to The Telegraph, BCP publicity secretary Dithapelo Keorapetse said his party was thin on the ground.
He is confident that they had the best candidate as compared to Eric Molale of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Kgosi Lotlamoreng II of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Keorapetse said it should be recalled that they participated in two by elections previously which also required resources out of the party adding that recently they also held an elective congress which also required resources.
“The other factor is that we did not have a representative or MP until few months before the elections,” he said.
Out of the five by elections since the 2014 general elections, four being at council level and one being at Parliamentary level, BCP participated in three by elections and won two at council level
In a press statement the party youth league led by Chilboy Rakgare stated that Goodhope/Mabule by election results can never be used to test the strength of the BCP.
The youth movement reiterated mother party statement that they are the party with less resources and their support in the constituency has been growing but not at a desired rate.
“We therefore wish to send a strong message to our detractors and remind them of our achievements in 2015. Out of the five by elections held since the general elections, the BCP has won two. It must be recalled that the BCP only contested the three by elections. The other two by elections (Shadishadi and the Goodhope ward) the BCP decided to pave way and support the UDC,” said Rakgare.
The Youth league also reiterated its position on opposition talks that its mother body should swiftly engage the UDC on how “we can work together even on the by elections.”
The youth movement further said Goodhope/Mabule by election outcome clearly “demonstrates that the BDP is finished.”
“The BDP used government resources as they were canvassing for votes in this by election but still they got rejected as it has become the norm. Since the 2014 General elections the BDP has contested ALL the 5 by elections and lost ALL. We urge Batswana to continue rejecting the BDP by voting for the opposition,” said Rakgare.
