The Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) are reportedly at war over Tati East constituency.
A close source has indicated that the constituency which was allocated to the BPP in the 2019 general elections has seen two other UDC contracting parties eyeing for the constituency.
It is understood that BCP intends to field its Youth League President Tlhabologo Furniture who has since started to prepare the ground for the 2024 general elections.
On the other hand, BPF has lined up former constituency MP Guma Moyo as they strongly believe that he stands a good stance to win the constituency for the opposition.
Moyo who has since made a return to politics after a long exile, poses a threat as part of the BPF strategy is to have him in the central committee and subsequently be allocated a constituency.
Meanwhile, BPP is understood to be hellbent on holding onto the constituency despite the fact that their 2019 candidate has since joined the Botswana Democratic Party.
For his part, BPP President Motlatsi Molapisi said although they have not been approached by any contracting party, they will flatly refuse to give away their constituency, adding that they were given fewer constituencies in the lead up to the 2019 general elections.
“We will not consider any discussions because we have quite a good number of capable people who have already shown interest to contest. We might have lost our 2019 candidate to the BDP but it does not mean we have no one to represent the party,” said Molapisi.
For her part, BCP President Dumelang Saleshando refuted the allegations saying they have no intention to take over the BPP constituency, also highlighting that negotiations for the constituencies are ongoing.
On the other hand, BPF Chairperson Caroline Lesang also said no interest has been shown by the party to take over Tati East constituency.
“Of course, Guma Moyo is our member but it does not mean that he will contest Tati East constituency,” said Lesang.
UDC Spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa said he is not aware of any interest from any contracting parties to wrestle Tati East constituency from BPP.
“We have not had a UDC meeting in a long time and I do not remember any party going for BPP’s constituency, and we have not even discussed that constituency,” said Mohwasa.
