Simon Moabi
Simon Moabi | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Tati West | |
| In office 5 November 2019 – 5 September 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Biggie Butale |
| Succeeded by | Justin Hunyepa |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Botswana Democratic Party |
Simon Moabi is a Motswana politician and a former Member of Parliament for Tati West in the 12th Parliament of Botswana from 2019 to 2024.
Electoral History
[edit]2019
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDP | Simon Moabi | 6,236 | 49.33 | +6.40 | |
| UDC | Makhani Tshepo | 4,783 | 37.84 | +4.47 | |
| BPF | Biggie Butale | 1,622 | 12.83 | N/A | |
| Margin of victory | 1,453 | 11.49 | +1.93 | ||
| Total valid votes | 12,641 | 99.40 | +0.19 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 76 | 0.79 | −0.19 | ||
| Turnout | 12,717 | 88.64 | +3.30 | ||
| Registered electors | 14,346 | ||||
| BDP gain from BPF | Swing | +5.44 | |||
2024
[edit]Incumbent Moabi was criticized for not speaking at Parliament meetings, ranking first on a list of "silent and underperforming MPs".[2] He was also criticized by Mmegi magazine for unwisely unilaterally using funds appropriated for his constituency on a road linking Mbalambi, Sekakangwe, and Kalakamat due to the fact that the funds were P 10 million, and the most conservative estimates for the road were that it would cost at least 10 times that amount. He defended his decision by explaining that the fund was supposed to be used for the whole constituency and not split up by village, dismissing claims that the funds were becoming a motshelo.[3]
UDP candidate Justin Hunyepa complained that the ruling BDP was "sabotaging" his campaign by removing his campaign posters from villages like Masunga and Mlambakwena using state resources. He also complained that Moabi's posters were funded by the government and that he had to pay for his own.[4]
During the campaign, Moabi defended president Mokgweetsi Masisi's foreign trips and successes on fighting livestock diseases such as Foot-and-mouth disease as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana.[5]
Mbakiso Mukokomani, who lost the BDP primary to Moabi, alleged electoral fraud due to the fact that some ballot boxes were not counted.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDC | Justin Hunyepa | 6,713 | 49.99 | +12.15 | |
| BDP | Simon Moabi | 3,223 | 24.00 | −25.33 | |
| BCP | Leonard Mutheto | 2,679 | 19.95 | N/A | |
| BRP | Biggie Butale | 813 | 6.05 | N/A | |
| Margin of victory | 3,490 | 25.99 | N/A | ||
| Total valid votes | 13,428 | 99.37 | −0.03 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 85 | 0.63 | +0.03 | ||
| Turnout | 13,513 | 83.24 | −5.40 | ||
| Registered electors | 16,233 | ||||
| UDC gain from BDP | Swing | +18.74 | |||
References
[edit]- ^ Report to the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration on the 2019 General Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). 2020.
- ^ Chida, Daniel (2023-08-15). "The silent and underperforming MPS » TheVoiceBW". TheVoiceBW. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ^ Balise, Joseph (2023-06-19). "Tati West legislator fends off potential backlash". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ^ Mkhutshwa, Lesedi (2024-10-08). "Tati West political poster wars erupt". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ^ "Mmegi". enews.mmegi.bw. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ^ Ramatiti, Ketumile (2024-10-23). "Threats of more BDP primary election lawsuits". Weekend Post. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ^ "Hunyepa makes Parliament debut after winning Tati West". DailyNews. 31 October 2024.