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Skelemani Promised A Tough Contest |
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The BCP candidate for Francistown East has promised the incumbent MP Phandu Skelemani a tough contest in the upcoming general elections. Francistown East parliamentary aspirant Morgan Moseki who lost to Skelemani in 2004
when they were both novices in politics believes his fortunes will turn around in 2009. Skelemani will not have to go through the grueling process of Bulela Ditswe as he has been unchallenged within the party.
As the political climate heats up ahead of the 2009 elections Moseki has promised a bruising battle for the constituency. He acknowledged that it in 2004 it was going to be tough to win it, but next year he anticipates a change of leadership. “It would have been magic if I had won in 2004. I started my campaign late as I was in Cape Town doing my studies but I never slept on my laurels,” Moseki pointed out.
Moseki, who is also a practicing lawyer, arrived in the constituency after Raphael Sikwane abandoned it because of internal wrangling within the party.
He further said he is now working tirelessly to give the former attorney general a good run for the constituency. He said; “It will now be up to the electorates to endorse me as their representative.”
Though Skelemani’s popularity continues to rise with each passing day some dissenting voices have been blasting him for being a visitor in the constituency. They feel that the MP who is also a cabinet minister spends more time away from the constituency and that they hardly see him.
Moseki will also bank his fortunes on the hostilities that could erupt in the constituency after the BDP primary elections. BDP insiders speculate that the battle between Anthony Chebani and Rebecca Nshakashogwe could make or break it for Skelemani. “Skelemani should be careful not to support one over the other because it might work against him.”
Chebani is the former Francistown constituency officer and has been hailed as Skelemani’s blue eyed boy and some firmly believe he was tactically placed to oust Nshakashogwe.
But the constituency might not come easy to Moseki. In the recent elections the opposition has never won Francistown East and currently all councilors in the constituency are from the ruling party.
BY NCHIDZI SMARTS
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