• BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SAJuly 2, 2025
    … as the country grapples with the worst outbreak in years STAFF WRITER RelatedPosts BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA Tshekedi in BPF race BTCL enjoys strong growth editors@thepatriot.co.bw Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has… Read more: BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA
  • Tshekedi in BPF raceJuly 2, 2025
    Launches campaign ahead of BPF elective congress Tshekedi is heir to BPF throne, an Ian Khama’s creation – Analyst BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA Tshekedi in BPF race BTCL… Read more: Tshekedi in BPF race
  • CHOPPIES – FINANCE MANAGERJune 30, 2025
    RelatedPosts CHOPPIES – FINANCE MANAGER LIQUID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES BOTSWANA – SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT LIQUID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES BOTSWANA – HEAD OF SALES
  • BTCL enjoys strong growthJune 30, 2025
    Revenue jumps 4% to P1.49 billion Strong 2024 growth attributed to strategy Profit before Tax reaches P259 million, up 30%   BAKANG TIRO RelatedPosts BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA Tshekedi in BPF race… Read more: BTCL enjoys strong growth
  • Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laughJune 30, 2025
    Court orders Botswana govt to apologise to Bridgette Motsepe Apology to cover Ian Khama, Isaac Kgosi, Welheminah Maswabi Botswana to settle huge legal bills, costs for publishing apologies As former President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blunder haunts Botswana STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw… Read more: Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
  • Login
  • Register
Sunday, July 6, 2025
17 °c
Gaborone
21 ° Tue
22 ° Wed
24 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
The Patriot On Sunday
Subscribe
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Mekoko fashionable in 2019

patriot by patriot
January 3, 2021
in News
245
0
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

The local political landscape has shifted with an influx of independent candidates now throwing their hats into the ring in order to represent different constituencies in the National Assembly and wards in this year’s elections.

Pundits observe that 2019 general elections could possibly turn out to be the most ever infiltrated by the high numbers of independent candidates vying for the parliamentary and council seats. With less than three months to go before the elections in October, there appears to be a proliferation of independent candidates unlike any other elections before under IEC watch.

RelatedPosts

Tshekedi in BPF race

Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE RISING

IEC has so far received 21 confirmations of independent candidates contesting for parliament, followed by a whopping 223 aspiring independent council candidates, revealed IEC Secretary Keireng Zuze.

The escalating number of independent candidates is attributed to the increasing tensions across the entire political divide as a result of the disputed Bulelwa Ditswe last year, notes political analyst Mokaloba Mokaloba.

Mokaloba indicates that the prompt rise of independent candidates has been long envisaged from the protests of primary elections results that were rife in the ruling BDP and BNF last year.

“A lot has unfolded after the party’s primary elections, which saw most ministers in BDP losing to the new faces leading to massive protests. BNF primaries were also marred by the protests and most of the defections were by the aggrieved members,” said Mokaloba.

He noted that as it is a trend that Mekoko historically don’t perform well at the polls, the only threat they pose is vote splitting which will count more during this year’s elections.

Moreover, the influence of Khama has been also cited as the reason for a rapid increase of independent candidates based on the fact that majority of the contesting mekoko’s are close to Khama.

Another political analyst Anthony Morima indicates that most of independent candidates who broke away from the BDP are likely to join Khama’s new political party Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), especially those from the central district.

 Zuze on the other hand observes that the number of Mekoko both for parliament and council can still increase, as registration of independent candidates will run until nomination day.

IEC secretary indicated that the 2019 elections are witnessing more rise in independents as compared to the last general elections which recorded 254 mekoko for council seats.

In 2014, 24 parliamentary mekoko registered and so far 21 has registered with a possibility of surpassing the figure a bit more.

She said IEC has no legal guideline or provision that regulates the registration of independent candidates therefore nothing can be done by those candidates who prefer to be mekoko.

Prominent figures

Here is a glimpse of ex ruling party, BDP members who revives political careers as independent candidates in the much anticipated 2019 elections.

Prince Maele

Maverick incumbent Lerala -Maunatlala MP has come out as the most popular candidate who has announced lately his intention to contest for the elections as an independent candidate.

Maele’s decision to go solo follows his suspension from Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in April, with the suspension barring him to contest for the parliamentary seat under BDP banner.

The MP who seems to be enjoying the backing of the constituents who during consultation meeting recently vowed to support their MP to win back the constituency.

He won the party primaries for the constituency last year, garnering 3 528 votes against his Setlhabelo Modukanele’s 3 231 votes.

However, former president Ian Khama when quizzed about Maele’s possibility of joining BPF said Maele hasn’t yet approached the party, indicating that he is assured that he might join at later stage.

Robert Masitara

Another former BDP stalwart Robert Masitara pulled a surprise declaring   to contest for Gaborone Bonnington North as an independent candidate, making a return to elections after losing at the 2014 elections.

He is vying for the constituency which he was once it’s MP against incumbent MP Duma Boko who is the leader of UDC, Poloko Pitwane (Former Limkokwing President) who is also contesting as Mokoko.

Masitara was defeated by Duma Boko of UDC garnering 7 694 votes against Masitara’s 4 222 votes and BCP’s then Annah Motlhagodi coming behind with 2 387 votes.

Ramadeluka Seretse

Former Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Ramadeluka Seretse is one of the members who have broken ranks with BDP after losing the 2018 Bulelwa Ditswe elections against Kgotla Autlwetse.

As it still not known if he will join the newly formed Botswana Patriotic Front, Ndelu as he is popularly known in the political circles has since insisted he will contest for Serowe North as an independent candidate during the upcoming elections.

Seretse lost the party primary elections back to back against the incumbent Serowe North MP, Kgotla Autlwetse during the 2013 and 2018 primary elections respectively, leaving him amongst disgruntled politicians who opted to contest as solo candidates.

Related

Tags: MEKOKO

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

On the couch with Motswagae

Next Post

Ndaba dismisses Declaration of Assets& Liabilities Bill

Related Posts

Tshekedi in BPF race
News

Tshekedi in BPF race

July 2, 2025
Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh
News

Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh

June 30, 2025
ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE RISING
News

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE RISING

June 25, 2025
UDC impress BagaMmangwato
News

UDC impress BagaMmangwato

June 24, 2025
DIKGOSI ON GBV CRISIS ‘Our communities are perishing’
News

DIKGOSI ON GBV CRISIS ‘Our communities are perishing’

June 23, 2025
News

BOKO’S WAR ROOM

June 23, 2025
Next Post
Ndaba dismisses Declaration of Assets& Liabilities Bill

Ndaba dismisses Declaration of Assets& Liabilities Bill

Please login to join discussion
  • BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SAJuly 2, 2025
    … as the country grapples with the worst outbreak in years STAFF WRITER RelatedPosts BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA Tshekedi in BPF race BTCL enjoys strong growth editors@thepatriot.co.bw Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has… Read more: BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA
  • Tshekedi in BPF raceJuly 2, 2025
    Launches campaign ahead of BPF elective congress Tshekedi is heir to BPF throne, an Ian Khama’s creation – Analyst BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA Tshekedi in BPF race BTCL… Read more: Tshekedi in BPF race
  • CHOPPIES – FINANCE MANAGERJune 30, 2025
    RelatedPosts CHOPPIES – FINANCE MANAGER LIQUID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES BOTSWANA – SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT LIQUID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES BOTSWANA – HEAD OF SALES
  • BTCL enjoys strong growthJune 30, 2025
    Revenue jumps 4% to P1.49 billion Strong 2024 growth attributed to strategy Profit before Tax reaches P259 million, up 30%   BAKANG TIRO RelatedPosts BVI ships over 500 000 doses of FMD vaccines to SA Tshekedi in BPF race… Read more: BTCL enjoys strong growth
  • Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laughJune 30, 2025
    Court orders Botswana govt to apologise to Bridgette Motsepe Apology to cover Ian Khama, Isaac Kgosi, Welheminah Maswabi Botswana to settle huge legal bills, costs for publishing apologies As former President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blunder haunts Botswana STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw… Read more: Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh
The Patriot On Sunday

© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?