23 Jun 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has called on residents of Selebi Phikwe West constituency to vote for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the coming general elections.

He said BDP was the only alternative as other organisations did not have the capability to govern this country. He said this at the launching of BDP parliamentary candidate for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Opelo Makhandela and councilors on June 21.

Dr Kedikilwe noted that BDP had come a long way in bringing developments to the country and uplifting the livelihoods of Batswana.

This, he said, was evidenced by the infrastructural developments that had taken place in country since it gained independence. He said through the governance of the BDP, peace and prosperity had reigned in country.

He told residents of Selebi Phikwe that government had projects earmarked to take place in the Selebi Phikwe area. He said government had invested P7.5 million to finance a feasibility study on how the Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo dams could benefit Selebi Phikwe and the region and also help to diversify the economy of the mining town and residing areas.

Further he noted that SPEDU is in the process of setting up a horticulture produce processing plant to produce bottled and canned horticulture products. 

He said the BCL Mine had ventured into Polaris II initiative, which was expected to pro-long the lifespan of the mine. Dr Kedikilwe further told residents that plans were underway to set up a salphuric plant to convert smoke exhumed by the BCL Mine smelter into salphuric acid.

“This is why you should take it upon your selves that you vote for the BDP in coming general election as it is the only organization that can run the affairs of this country bring developments and uplift the lives of Batswana,” he said.

He called on residents to vote for the BDP in the Selebi Phikwe West constituency noting that Mr Makhandela and his team of councillors were hard workers and truthful people who would help develop and diversify the economy of the Selebi Phikwe.

Meanwhile, acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and also MP for Bobirwa, Mr Shaw Kgathi described Mr Makhandela as a reliable person who had served the nation for many years as a civil servant. 

He said residents should have trust on him and councilors in constituency to help bring developments.

He went on to touch on the issue regarding constituency football tournaments which he said is meant to unearth local talent, empower the youth and keep them away from deviant behaviour, noting the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) through its members was calling for the abolishment of the sport in the constituency which will have a negative impact on the growth of the sport. 

Also, he said BCP parliamentary candidate for Bobirwa Mr Taolo Lucas has vowed that his organisation will also abolish the Ipelegeng Development Programme which is meant to empower Batswana who do not have jobs to earn funds and take care of their basic needs. 

“If the BCP stops these programmes, how are Batswana who are unemployed going to earn some funds to take care of their basic needs and provide food for their children,” he said.

For his part Minister of Lands and Housing Mr Lebonamang Mokalake who is also MP for Boteti East said the BCP in their manifesto have replicated policies put in place by the BDP to manage land in the country. 

He said currently the opposition is calling for land audit in the country and claim they came up with the idea, yet the issue has been noted under the Land Draft policy that has been distributed in parliament. “This has always been on the table and we are in process of auditing land throughout the country,” he said.

He also noted that under the draft land policy the BDP government will service land before handing it out to relevant authorities to allocate it to Batswana.
“We have accelerated land servicing and acquisition in the country and also reduced tax for first time house buyers,” he said.

Other speakers were the BDP Secretary General Mr Mpho Balopi, MP hopeful for Francistown West Mr Ignitious Moswaane, former MP for Selebi Phikwe West Mr Kavis Kario, BDP country wide campaign manager Mr Alec Seametso, Mr Botho Ntirang from Tonota South constituency and Selebi Phikwe West campaign manager Mr Abraham Chakalisa.  ENDS