As the nation awaits President Ian Khama to issue an election writ, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it is ready to conduct the Tonota North Constituency by-election.
IEC officials in Tonota are currently conducting voter education in the constituency as well as gathering the views and expectations from stakeholders, such as political parties, tribal authorities, the Church and disabled members of the community, according to Motlhophi Adumeleng, an officer of the electoral body.
The IEC is currently conducting voter education among students at various brigades in the constituency.
The by-election is expected to be a litmus test for opposition cooperation, particularly between the Botswana Congress Party and the Botswana Movement for Democracy.
Both parties have indicated their readiness to work together to win the seat from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.
This will see the BMD letting the election pass by supporting the BCP’s Dr. Habaudi Hubona as the parliamentary candidate.┬áThe Botswana National Front is also expected to field a candidate though the party did not┬ácontest in the previous general election.
BDP has released the names of six aspiring parliamentary candidates approved by its central committee who will contest the party’s primary elections (Bulela Ditswe).
They are Ipuseng Chikanda, Lewis Malikongwa, Molomo Maano, Fidelis Molao, Oliphant Mfa and Daniel Onkabetse.
The by-election follows the death of former Finance and Development Planning Minister and area MP, Baledzi Gaolathe, last month.
