Mahalapye East
| Mahalapye East | |
|---|---|
| Single-member constituency for the National Assembly | |
.svg) | |
| District | Central |
| Population | 30,047 |
| Major settlements | Mahalapye |
| Area | 5,031 km2 |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 2004 |
| Party | UDC |
| Created from | Mahalapye |
| MP | Augustine Nyatanga |
| Margin of victory | 4,140 (30.8 pp) |
Mahalapye East is a constituency in the Central District represented in the National Assembly of Botswana by Augustine Nyatanga of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) since 2024.
Constituency profile
[edit]The constituency was created in 2004 as part of an increase in the number of Mahalapye constituencies from one to two. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won the seat in its inaugural election in 2004 and held on to it for the next two elections. The 2014 saw the BDP dip below 50% for the first time. In 2019, echoing a broader trend within the district, a significant political realignment occurred as Ian Khama, paramount chief of the Ngwato tribe fell out with the incumbent president, Mokgweetsi Masisi and leader of the BDP. This political discord impacted the constituency's voting patterns.[1][2] The Umbrella for Democratic Change flipped the seat, largely benefitting from the BPF siphoning away votes from the BDP. The seat was held by the UDC at a larger majority in 2024.
The rural constituency encompasses the following locations:[3]
- Eastern Mahalapye
- Taupye
- Makwate
- Shakwe
- Dovedale
- Mokoswane
- Kudumatswe
- Mmaphashalala
- Mookane
- Palla Road
- Parr's Halt Border Post
Members of Parliament
[edit]| Election | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 election | Botlogile Tshireletso | |
| 2009 election | ||
| 2014 election | ||
| 2019 election | Yandani Boko | |
| 2024 election | Augustine Nyatanga | |
Election results
[edit]2024 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDC | Augustine Nyatanga | 7,140 | 53.03 | +10.87 | |
| BDP | Thebe Setlalekgosi | 3,000 | 22.28 | −14.64 | |
| BCP | Ethel Gaampone | 2,100 | 15.60 | N/A | |
| BPF | Lazarus Lekgoanyane | 1,224 | 9.09 | −11.83 | |
| Margin of victory | 4,140 | 30.75 | +25.51 | ||
| Total valid votes | 13,464 | 99.00 | +0.32 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 135 | 1.00 | −0.32 | ||
| Turnout | 13,599 | 82.04 | −2.67 | ||
| Registered electors | 16,577 | ||||
| UDC hold | Swing | +12.76 | |||
2019 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDC | Yandani Boko | 4,323 | 42.16 | +2.24 | |
| BDP | Ecco Maje | 3,786 | 36.92 | −11.58 | |
| BPF | Lazarus Lekgoanyana | 2,145 | 20.92 | N/A | |
| Margin of victory | 537 | 5.24 | N/A | ||
| Total valid votes | 10,254 | 98.68 | +1.16 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 137 | 1.32 | −1.16 | ||
| Turnout | 10,391 | 84.71 | +0.38 | ||
| Registered electors | 12,267 | ||||
| UDC gain from BDP | Swing | +6.91 | |||
Note: UDC vote share is compared to the total vote share of the UDC and BCP in 2014.
2014 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDP | Botlogile Tshireletso | 4,406 | 48.50 | −18.51 | |
| UDC | Harry Mothei | 2,479 | 27.29 | −4.13 | |
| BCP | Enerst Nthobelang | 1,147 | 12.63 | −28.11 | |
| Independent | Neo Magowe | 1,053 | 11.59 | N/A | |
| Margin of victory | 1,927 | 21.21 | −14.38 | ||
| Total valid votes | 9,085 | 97.52 | −0.48 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 231 | 2.48 | +0.48 | ||
| Turnout | 9,316 | 84.33 | +9.24 | ||
| Registered electors | 11,047 | ||||
| BDP hold | Swing | −7.19 | |||
Note: UDC vote share is compared to the vote share of the BNF in 2009.
2009 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDP | Botlogile Tshireletso | 5,178 | 67.01 | +3.58 | |
| BNF | Basimane Mannaesi | 2,428 | 31.42 | −0.15 | |
| Independent | Roosevelt Kgosi | 121 | 1.57 | N/A | |
| Margin of victory | 2,750 | 35.59 | +3.73 | ||
| Total valid votes | 7,727 | 98.00 | +0.22 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 157 | 2.00 | −0.22 | ||
| Turnout | 7,884 | 75.09 | −1.18 | ||
| Registered electors | 10,499 | ||||
| BDP hold | Swing | +1.87 | |||
2004 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDP | Botlogile Tshireletso | 3,979 | 63.43 | ||
| BNF | Wame Boitumelo | 1,836 | 31.57 | ||
| Margin of victory | 2,143 | 31.86 | |||
| Total valid votes | 5,815 | 97.78 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 132 | 2.22 | |||
| Turnout | 5,947 | 76.27 | |||
| Registered electors | 7,797 | ||||
| BDP win (new seat) | |||||
References
[edit]- ^ Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (2022-10-10). "Serowe constituencies vulnerable as BPF rumpus continues". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ Seabo, Batlang; Nyenhuis, Robert (2021-11-23). "Botswana's 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama". African Studies Review. 64 (4): 854–883. doi:10.1017/asr.2021.69. ISSN 0002-0206. S2CID 244539238.
- ^ 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022.
- ^ "UDC wins Mahalapye East Constituency". DailyNews. 1 November 2024.
- ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2019
- ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014
- ^ Report To The Minister Of Presidential Affairs And Public Administration On The 2009 General Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
- ^ BOTSWANA GENERAL ELECTIONS 30th OCTOBER 2004 POLLING RESULTS (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).