Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has come out to say they will not be contesting the Tlokweng Council by-election.
In a letter to the Botswana National Front (BNF) Acting Secretary General, the BCP Secretary General says they will however want a meeting to review the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by opposition parties on the holding of by-elections.
Dr Kesitlegile Gobotswang says the BCP remains open to engaging other opposition parties on models of cooperation alternative to the umbrella. He has called on the new BNF acting Secretary General, Same Bathobakae for a meeting to share more on the related issues.
“I also want to take this opportunity to restate that we remain committed to MoU on by-elections and will not be fielding a candidate for Lenganeng by-election. However we need to reconsider the terms of MoU alongside the latest developments on opposition cooperation.”
BCP, BNF and the opposition Botswana Peoples Party signed the agreement not to contest one another in future by-elections in the wake of the previous national elections to avoid vote splitting.
In an interview, the BCP Spokesperson said they are awaiting a response from the BNF.
“We sent a letter to BNF leadership a fortnight ago and we are still awaiting their response,” said Taolo Lucas.
BNF Publicity Secretary Moeti Mohwasa has confirmed that his party has received the BCP correspondence.
Mohwasa said the BNF will officially respond after the party’s Special Congress to be held in Mahalapye over the weekend.
In his letter to the BNF, Dr Gobotswang said he will be making the contents of his letter public as a way of clearing the air following distortions and public misconceptions surrounding the MoU, especially BCP’s position on the coming by election in Tlokweng.
Lenganeng Ward fell vacant after the death of a BDP Councilor.
The BNF came second with a margin of 7 votes.
Under the terms of the MoU, an opposition party that scored highest votes in the General Elections is given the advantage to contest by-elections in case of a vacancy.
