10 Aug 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has pleaded with Batswana to continue having confidence on the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in its effort to nurture the economic and political success of Botswana.

Speaking at the launch of Kgalagadi South prospetive parliamentary candidate, Mr Frans Van Der Westruizen in Tsabong, Dr Kedikilwe credited the ruling party for the role it had played since independence.

He said the BDP had made significant progress in protecting the interests of Batswana by initiating a number of programmes all aimed at improving the livelihoods of all the citizenry. 

Batswana, he said, must secure a brighter future for the country by voting for the BDP so that it could continue with good governance that it had portrayed since the country’s independence.

Dr Kedikilwe, who is also the party chairman stated that the commencement of the Special ISPAAD programme for Kgalagadi District and other areas with similar agro-climatic conditions was clear testimony that government still had the interests of Batswana at heart.

He explained that the Special ISPAAD programm was tailor-made for areas not suitable for arable farming due to little rain which hinders them to benefit from the conventional ISPAAD program. 

“It is of great significant to note that government affirmed the inception of the Special ISPAAD programme, following concerns raised by some of the Kgalagadi district populace with regard to the conventional ISPAAD program,” he said.

The move, the vice president said was testimony that the BDP-led government was willing to address community raised concerns.

Dr Kedikilwe stated that as part of promoting social inclusion and empowering Batswana in rural dwellings, government continues to roll out amenities under its revised Remote Area Development Programme.

He said it was part of his mandate as chairman of the Rural Development Council to ensure that a number of sustainable community based projects such as the Zutshwa salt project and Mogobane Irrigation scheme were implemented.

He said the diversification of the tourism industry would continue to be government’s top priority adding that tourism still continues to be a key player on promoting employment creation and economic diversification.

“We are working on shifting the tourism industry from wildlife entity to other forms of tourism like sports and entertainment industry hence the introduction of the Khawa dune challenge which a lot of communities in Kgalagadi are benefiting from,” he said.

For his part Kgalagadi South parliamentary candidate, Mr Van Der Westruizen applauded the government for its effort to develop Kgalagadi, in particular the establishment of the small stock abattoir and the up grading of the Tsabong Junior secondary school.

He however preached for unity among the democrats within the trying political times where the general elections date was in the horizon.

Mr Van Der Westruizen said it was upon all members of the BDP to ensure that they wrestle the constituency from the opposition party by voting for the ruling party in large number in the next general elections. ENDS