Tonota (Botswana constituency)

Tonota
Single-member constituency
for the National Assembly
Boundary of Tonota constituency in Botswana
DistrictCentral District
Population46,284[1]
Major settlementsTonota
Area5,389 km2
Current constituency
Created1965
Party  BDP
Created fromTonota North
Tonota South
Abolished1999
Re-established2014
MPPono Moatlhodi
Margin of victory1,239 (8.0 pp)

Tonota is a constituency in Botswana represented in the National Assembly of Botswana since 2019 by Pono Moatlhodi a BDP MP serving as the Deputy-Speaker of the National Assembly since July 2021.[2]

Constituency profile

The seat has traditionally been a stronghold for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), consistently supporting it from its establishment in 1965 until its abolition after the 1999 elections. The constituency was re-established ahead of the 2014 elections and the BDP notionally held the seat. However, in the 2019 election, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) won the seat, marking the first time an opposition party had secured victory in the seat and its predecessors, Tonota South and Tonota North. This win aligned with the broader success the UDC achieved in the northern parts of Botswana during the 2019 election.

The predominantly rural constituency encompasses the following localities:[3]

  1. Tonota
  2. Serule
  3. Mandunyane
  4. Borotsi
  5. Foley
  6. Gojwane
  7. Sese
  8. Makomoto

Members of Parliament

Key:   BDP   UDC

Election Winner
1965 election Lemme Makgekgenene
1969 election
1974 election
1979 election
1984 election
1989 election
1994 election
1999 election
2014 election Thapelo Olopeng
2019 election Pono Moatlhodi

Election results

2019 election

General election 2019: Tonota[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UDC Pono Moatlhodi 8,364 54.00 +13.52
BDP Thapelo Olopeng 7,125 46.00 −8.81
Margin of victory 1,239 8.00 N/A
Total valid votes 15,489 99.39 +0.23
Rejected ballots 95 0.61 −0.23
Turnout 15,584 84.86 +1.59
Registered electors 18,364
UDC gain from BDP Swing +11.17

2014 election

General election 2014: Tonota[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
BDP Thapelo Olopeng 7,013 54.81
UDC Pono Moatlhodi 5,179 40.48
BCP Themba Joina 475 3.71
Independent Michael K. Mzwinila 128 1.00
Margin of victory 1,834 14.33
Total valid votes 12,795 99.16
Rejected ballots 108 0.84
Turnout 12,903 83.27
Registered electors 15,495
BDP notional hold

1999 election

General election 1999: Tonota[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Pono Moatlhodi 4,724 69.94 +3.38
BNF J. Montsho 1,035 15.32 –3.68
BCP W. B. Marobela 561 8.31 New
BAM C. Phillime 434 6.43 New
Margin of victory 3,689 54.62 +7.96
Total valid votes 6,754 94.00 N/A
Rejected ballots 431 6.00 N/A
Turnout 7,185 71.19 +2.00
Registered electors 10,093
BDP hold Swing +3.53

1994 election

General election 1994: Tonota[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 4,542 66.56 –4.66
BNF M. Mogapi 1,358 19.00 +1.47
BPP S. D. Sefume 924 14.44 +3.19
Margin of victory 3,184 46.66 –7.23
Turnout 6,824 69.19 +2.48
Registered electors 9,862
BDP hold Swing –1.60

1989 election

General election 1989: Tonota[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 5,404 71.22 –3.41
BNF Willie Gulubane 1,330 17.53 New
BPP Bonno Pone 854 11.25 –14.12
Margin of victory 4,074 53.89 +4.43
Turnout 7,588 66.71 –7.75
Registered electors 11,374
BDP hold Swing +7.06

1984 election

General election 1984: Tonota
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 5,188 74.63 –3.77
BPP Bonno Pone 1,764 25.37 +3.77
Margin of victory 3,424 49.26 –7.54
Turnout 6,952 74.46 +6.70
Registered electors 9,336
BDP hold Swing –3.77

1979 election

General election 1979: Tonota[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 3,292 78.40 –1.77
BPP J. Modise 907 21.60 +1.77
Margin of victory 2,385 56.80 –3.54
Turnout 7,006 67.76 +29.64
Registered electors 10,340
BDP hold Swing –1.77

1974 election

General election 1974: Tonota[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 1,261 80.17 +13.06
BPP P.K. Pudiephatshwa 312 19.83 –7.00
Margin of victory 949 60.34 +20.06
Turnout 1,573 15.22 −32.32
Registered electors 10,333
BDP hold Swing +10.03

1969 election

General election 1969: Tonota[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 1,683 67.11 +6.26
BPP P.P. Kgamane 673 26.83 –10.97
BNF W. Gulubane 152 6.06 New
Margin of victory 1,010 40.28 +17.23
Turnout 1,750 47.54 –36.66
Registered electors 5,276
BDP hold Swing +8.62

1965 election

General election 1965: Tonota [11]
Party Candidate Votes %
BDP Lemme Makgekgenene 3,291 60.85
BPP L.E. Senthufhe 2,044 37.80
BIP M.N. Nwako 73 1.35
Margin of victory 1,247 23.05
Turnout 3,866 84.2
Registered electors ≈4,591
BDP win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022. p. 25.
  2. ^ Mompati Tlhankane (6 July 2021). "Moatlhodi takes over as Deputy Speaker". mmegi.bw. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  3. ^ REPORT OF THE DELIMITATION COMMISSION, 2012 (PDF). 2012. p. 26.
  4. ^ Report to the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration on the 2019 General Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). 2020.
  5. ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014
  6. ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 1999
  7. ^ a b Results by constituency
  8. ^ Democracy in the face of a weak Opposition in Botswana, Brian T. Mokopakgosi & Mpho G. Molomo (2000)
  9. ^ Report to the Minister of State on the general elections, 1974 (PDF). Supervisor of Elections. 1974.
  10. ^ "Report on the General Elections 1969" (PDF). 1969.
  11. ^ Gossett, Charles W.; Kebapetse, Lotshwao (21 April 2013). "Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election". Botswana Notes & Records. 41. Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network (published 2009): 53. Retrieved 2024-01-27.