27 Aug 2014

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) youths have been challenged to usher in change through a ballot in the October 24 general elections.

Speaking during the launch of UDC Shoshong parliamentary candidate and council hopefuls, veteran politician, Mr Moses Ntwayagae called on the liberal and progressive young party members to thrive towards ushering in a new government in the form of UDC.

Unlike the old folks who were termed conservative and preferring the status quo, Mr Ntwayagae warned the young turks of the challenges ahead especially the ‘been there’s’ who would peddle all sorts of negative stories to deter them from pursuing their cause.

He also told the UDC youth that by voting for Mr Aubrey Lesaso and his team, they would be securing their future. The veteran Mahalapye politician criticized the ruling BDP of having devised policies and programmes that continued to impoverish Batswana despite the latter having voted the former in good faith.

Another speaker, Mr Harry Mothei who is a UDC Mahalapye East parliamentary candidate, reiterated Mr Ntwayagae’s utterances by urging the movement’s young guns to deliver the change that many Batswana were yearning for.

Mr Mothei was of the view that a successful election outcome in favour of his party would see young people delivered from the pangs of hunger and unemployment inter alia.

He accused the ruling party of devoting all its energy towards Ipelegeng when there were many worthy causes to channel energies at. He alleged that the BDP’s ‘Letsema le tsweletse’ slogan meant that Ipelegeng program will continue unabated.

Mr Mothei also took swipe at the incumbent Member of Parliament Mr Phillip Makgalemela for his love for money and alleged that he retraced his steps back to the BDP after being promised cash.

When officially launching Mr Lesaso and his arsenal of councilors, Francistown South legislator who is also a UDC secretary general Mr Wynter Mmolotsi described the candidates as capable of addressing the problems bedeviling Shoshong constituency.

He said that the candidates fitted in well in UDC’s policies of amongst other things creating permanent jobs for the populace.

“If I were Mr Boko I would be eyeing Mr Lesaso for a cabinet post because he is a ministerial material,” Mr Mmolotsi said before taking the war to the ruling party which he accused of wounding the country’s democracy.

He observed that veteran BDP members like the former presidents Mr Festus Mogae and Sir Ketumile Masire have expressed their concerns at the regressing democracy by the current government led by president Khama.

In his acceptance speech Mr Lesaso detailed his achievements whilst serving at Water Utilities Corporation (WUC).

He said that working as an infrastructure development officer at WUC he managed to deliver infrastructural developments and one of his challenges in parliament would be to advocate for how best people could get clean water.

In his call for a corrupt-free government, Mr Lesaso called on UDC members to dedicate everything they do to the fallen hero Mr Gomolemo Motswaledi whom he described as a true leader.

He said that Mr Motswaledi’s death should be a catalyst and should remind UDC members of the ideals the late BMD leader cherish.Ends