04 Mar 2013

Investing in quality education is critical because it will ensure that people do not depend on government, says leader of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president Mr Dumelang Saleshando.

Addressing a politically rally in Old Naledi  in Gaborone on Saturday, where he welcomed former secretary general of the Botswana National Front (BNF) Mr Akanyang Magama and others into the party, Mr Saleshando said the current state of education was worrisome because classroom enrolment was high.

He said in this regard many pupils especially at primary school level, fail their final examinations as compared to those in private schools where teacher pupil ration was one teacher to 20 students.

Mr Saleshando noted that although the BCP had raised the issue with government, nothing was being done to remedy the situation. He said “a well-educated nation can be able to fend for itself instead of depending on government as it was the case now.”

Mr Saleshando said it was also disturbing that some Batswana have turned into destitute and lost their sense of existence “as they have been reduced to hopeless souls who are only good at receiving donation and low wages of Ipelegeng programme.”

He said if voted into power, BCP would prudently utilise diamonds revenue to create employment for Batswana instead of exporting jobs to foreign countries.

Speaking at the rally Mr Magama said he was happy that he has joined a stable and focused party unlike where he was coming from. He therefore urged others from his former party and others to join BCP, noting that he would tirelessly work for the party particularly that he has realised that this party has been embraced in Gaborone South Constituency.

Mr Magama however lamented over sorry living standard of people in Old Naledi, adding that most people in the area were unable to access power and relied on Ipelegeng as their major source of economic employment. 

Another speaker, MP for Kgatleng East Mr Isaac Mabiletsa decried the collapse of opposition cooperation because of lack of cooperation from some members of newly formed Botswana Movement for Democracy and BNF. 

Meanwhile BCP vice chairperson for Gaborone region Mr Lotty Manyapedza said it would be unfortunate should the party fail to win the Gaborone South constituency in the next general elections. He said there was no way the incumbent MP Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi could go back to Parliament in 2014 because he has failed the Old Naledi residents. ENDS