# Lobatse (Botswana constituency)

Lobatse is a constituency represented in the National Assembly of Botswana represented by Kamal Jacobs of the Umbrella for Democratic Change since 2024.

## Constituency profile

The constituency was created for the 1994 elections, in the context of Botswana's increasing urbanization, with the division of Lobatse/Barolong into two proper constituencies. The constituency includes the city of Lobatse and its surrounding rural area. From its creation until 2014 (when BDP won it), Lobatse was a safe seat for the BNF. In 2009 MP Nehemiah Modubule (former Leader of the Opposition and originally from the BNF), ran as an independent and was re-elected, at that time it was the only time any politician has been elected to the Parliament of Botswana as an independent. The constituency has historically been a fertile site for minority third parties and independents, and since its creation has rarely been contested by fewer than five candidates.

## Members of Parliament

Key:  BNF BDP Independent UDC
| Election | Winner |
| 1994 election | Otlaadisa Koosaletse |
| 1999 election | Nehemiah Modubule |
| 2004 election | Nehemiah Modubule |
| 2009 election | Nehemiah Modubule |
| 2014 election | Sadique Kebonang |
| 2019 election | Thapelo Matsheka |
| 2024 election | Kamal Jacobs |

## Election results
### 2024 election

General election 2024: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UDC | Kamal Jacobs | 6,872 | 66.35 | +45.70 |
| | BDP | Pelotshweu Motlogelwa | 2,699 | 26.06 | −35.79 |
| | Independent | Mpoloka Pandor | 445 | 4.30 | N/A |
| | BCP | Tebo Mooki | 341 | 3.29 | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,173 | 40.29 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,357 | 98.94 | −0.25 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 111 | 1.06 | +0.25 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,468 | 80.85 | −1.30 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,947 | | |
| | UDC gain from BDP | UDC gain from BDP | Swing | +40.75 | |

### 2019 election

General election 2019: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BDP | Thapelo Matsheka | 6,705 | 61.85 | +11.95 |
| | UDC | Orapeleng Kakoma | 2,238 | 20.65 | −24.80 |
| | Independent | Kamal Jacobs | 1,413 | 13.04 | N/A |
| | AP | Shaffi Pandor | 238 | 2.20 | N/A |
| | BMD | Nehemiah Modubule | 166 | 1.53 | −43.92 |
| | BPF | Kader Badat | 40 | 0.37 | N/A |
| | Independent | Patrick Kebailele | 40 | 0.37 | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,467 | 41.20 | +36.75 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,840 | 99.19 | −0.02 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 88 | 0.81 | +0.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,928 | 82.15 | −3.32 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,302 | | |
| | BDP hold | BDP hold | Swing | +18.38 | |

### 2014 election

General election 2014: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BDP | Sadique Kebonang | 5,485 | 49.90 | +8.33 |
| | UDC | Nehemiah Modubule | 4,996 | 45.45 | +2.70 |
| | BCP | Ellius Rantleru | 511 | 4.65 | −0.20 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 489 | 4.45 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 11,015 | 99.21 | +1.23 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 88 | 0.79 | −1.23 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,103 | 85.47 | +11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,991 | | |
| | BDP gain from UDC | BDP gain from UDC | Swing | +5.52 | |

### 2009 election

General election 2009: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Nehemiah Modubule | 4,175 | 42.75 | −7.29 |
| | BDP | Moggie Mbaakanyi | 4,060 | 41.57 | +4.76 |
| | BNF | Otlaadisa Koosaletse | 1,018 | 10.42 | −39.62 |
| | BCP | Diane Taunyane | 474 | 4.85 | −2.17 |
| | BTTO | Kealeboga Modise | 40 | 4.85 | −0.13 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 115 | 1.18 | −12.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,767 | 97.98 | −0.69 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 201 | 2.02 | +0.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,968 | 74.37 | +0.05 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,404 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | −6.03 | |

### 2004 election

General election 2004: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNF | Nehemiah Modubule | 4,173 | 50.04 | −0.92 |
| | BDP | Moggie Mbaakanyi | 3,070 | 36.81 | −4.54 |
| | BCP | Otlaadisa Koosaletse | 585 | 7.02 | −0.16 |
| | NDF | Metlhaeno Gaseitsiwe | 466 | 5.59 | N/A |
| | Independent | Kealeboga Modise | 45 | 0.54 | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,103 | 13.23 | +3.62 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,339 | 98.67 | +0.53 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 112 | 1.33 | −0.53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,451 | 76.85 | −3.53 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,997 | | |
| | BNF hold | BNF hold | Swing | −2.73 | |

### 1999 election

General election 1999: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNF | Nehemiah Modubule | 3,976 | 50.96 | −5.28 |
| | BDP | Ishoo Abdulla | 3,226 | 41.35 | +2.78 |
| | BCP | Otlaadisa Koosaletse | 560 | 7.18 | −49.06 |
| | BAM | L. E. Serema | 40 | 0.51 | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 750 | 9.61 | −8.06 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,802 | 98.14 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 148 | 1.86 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,950 | 80.38 | −0.73 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,891 | | |
| | BNF gain from BCP | BNF gain from BCP | Swing | −4.03 | |

### 1994 election

General election 1994: Lobatse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | BNF | Otlaadisa Koosaletse | 3,813 | 56.24 |
| | BDP | Ishoo Abdulla | 2,615 | 38.57 |
| | PUSO | Nehemiah Modubule | 265 | 3.91 |
| | IFP | M.E. Galetshoge | 49 | 0.72 |
| | BPP | W. Kumbulani | 38 | 0.56 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,198 | 17.67 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,780 | 81.11% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,359 | |
| | BNF win (new seat) | BNF win (new seat) | BNF win (new seat) | BNF win (new seat) |