Chairman of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Electoral Board Parks Tafa has ruled out the possibility of a re-run for the whole of the party’s primaries held in the Northern side of the country.
Tafa’s comment comes just a few days ahead of the party’s next batch of primaries scheduled for the weekend.
“These are the best primaries we have ever held in the history of the BDP,” he said adding that despite massive protests from losing candidates the returning officers who supervised the primaries had recorded 80 percent success feedback.
Tafa contradicted the party’s general secretary Mpho Balopi and stated that the party has not as yet decided whether to order a re-run of the Serowe North East constituency or alternatively carry out a re-run at the disputed Tshimoyapula ward.
“We have not decided on whether there will be a whole re-run for the whole Serowe North East Constituency or to just limit it to one ward,” said Tafa.
Minister Dikgakgamatso’s Seretse is pitted against his rival and a man who appears to be the favourate, Kgotla Autlwetse.
Aultwetse has since written to the BDP Electoral Board complaining about an impending re-run for the whole constituency.
He has accused Tafa of being conflicted to lead the Electoral Board while also serving as Seretse’s lawyer.
“I was Seretse’s lawyer in the criminal case. I act for so many people. If he was saying we are brothers or related it would make sense,” he said.
“At the moment it is possible we might limit the election to one ward or alternatively taking cognisance of regulation 9 and order a re-run of the whole constituency,” he added.
Tafa said that the party will announce its final decision midweek.
