The ruling Botswana Democratic Party’s Zubeida Raphael beat her fellow party contenders in the primaries last Saturday to emerge as candidate for the by election in the Boswelatlou Council ward in Lobatse.
Raphael will face off with Temba Stimela of the Umbrella for Democratic Change.
Stimela is the consensus candidate as the party did not hold primary elections.
Stimela is former Lobatse branch Chairman and was also Administrator in the office of the then Member of Parliament, Nehemiah Modudule.
“Only Moffat Mbaakanyi appeared to contest the results but eventually conceded,” confirmed the Presiding Officer Ontibile Kingsley Kgomoyarona on interview.
Boswelatlou has traditionally been the ruling party stronghold.
But in the General Elections last year the ward slipped into the hands of the UDC by a razor thin margin of 2 votes during the national elections last year October.
Botswana Congress Party has since said they will not be contesting.
They have pledged to support UDC. Everything being equal the decision by BCP not to contest is likely to be a determining factor.
In the General Elections the BCP obtained 93 votes for the ward.
The waed fell vacant after UDC incumbent councilor Kabelo Sebako resigned unexpectedly.
Sebako said he could not cope with dual responsibilities as a councilor and an accountant with Blue Crystal Sugar Company.
“BMD under the auspices of UDC will meet on Wednesday to map the way forward and earnestly kick start our campaigns. We have already identified our candidate who was unopposed,” revealed BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole for his part.
