Without looking to be painting everyone with the same brush, events of this week in the Gamalete constituency have once again rekindled the universally accepted notion that trusting a politician with your life is one of the biggest risks one can take. The ink has not yet dried on the recently publicized results of the primary elections held by the Botswana Congress Party in the area, and just when the Kgololo faithful were expecting full support for their winning parliamentary candidate, Boniface Mabeo, the man who lost to him, Donald Keakile, pulled the rug from under Mabeo’s feet and decided to join the Umbrella for Democratic Change in what will see the two men square off again at the national elections. The primary elections saw Mabeo garner 1995 votes against 1053 votes for Keakile. Godfrey Moduka followed in third place with 644. The numbers at the BCP primary elections were seen to be indicative of the strength of the party in the area, but many now fear the votes could be split. The constituents are however saying they are not shocked with Keakile’s move. Magatwe a re the man had only joined the BCP in March this year from

Botswana Democratic Party, reportedly eyeing the opportunity to become MP through the popular BCP in the area, but has quickly decamped again to seek another opportunity through the UDC. He has said he finds nothing wrong with what he is doing as Batswana all enjoy freedom of association. Magatwe a re at the UDC, he won’t face any primary election contest – he is already a candidate for 2024. Now some of Keakile’s BCP followers who voted for him are said to be torn between following him to a party they hate, and remaining with their party.