08 Sep 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)  has set a committee that will establish how its primary elections commonly known as Bulela Ditswe can be improved.

Addressing a political rally in Masunga in the Tati West constituency on September 6, Lt Gen. Khama said his party managed to deal with factions in the previous years, but had since realised that Bulela Ditswe contributed to divisions among democrats.

He, however, applauded all candidates who lost the Bulela Ditswe but remained in the party. Lt Gen. Khama said Tati West was one of the constituencies that had the highest number of Bulela Ditswe candidates of seven.

He applauded the five candidates who did not win but remained democrats, but condemned one of the losers who decided to contest the elections independently.

Lt Gen. Khama said he wondered why the candidate was the only one who claimed to have been cheated while the other five accepted the results.

He warned the constituents against voting for independent candidates since it will be waste of their votes as they could not form a government.

On other issues, Lt Gen. Khama said with the improvement of the economy, his government will ensure the improvement of the public service conditions of service and ensure that programmes such as Ipelegeng caters for a higher number of people.

The former MP, Mr Charles Tibone urged democrats to vote for the BDP prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Biggie Butale in large numbers in the coming general elections.

Mr Tibone said Mr Butale represented a party that had the welfare of the Tati West constituents at heart adding that through the party’s representation all the 28 villages forming the constituency had safe, clean water, electricity, primary schools and health facilities.

He encouraged Tati West constituents to ignore the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) as they do not have experience in governing.

BDP national campaigns manager, Mr Alec Seametso urged democrats to vote for Mr Butale in large numbers and ignore other candidates. 

Mr Seametso said the dream by independent candidates of representing voters was only a fantasy.

He said voters should disregard BCP and UDC candidates as the parties were formed by frustrated and power hungry people

Mr Butale appealed to the voters to vote for BDP in large numbers just like in the Serowe North constituency which was regarded as the party’s stronghold.

He said the voters should cast 10 000 votes for the BDP, 35 votes for the UDC, seven for the BCP and nothing for the independent candidate in the elections scheduled for October 24.

Mr Butale observed that since the Lt Gen. Khama took over, there had been a renascence of the arts in the country.

Tati West campaign manager, Mr Dikitso Mandevu said he was optimistic that BDP would retain the constituency. 

Mr Mandevu said the campaign team was working tirelessly to encourage people to vote for the BDP.

He said 14 000 voters registered for this year’s elections and the party aims at garnering over 8 000 votes.

Mr Mandevu said in 2004 three parties contested the constituency and BDP won with a margin of 802, but in 2009 the margin increased to slightly to over 1 000.

He said though this year there is a challenge of having an independent candidate who defected from the BDP, the party is determined to increase the margin.  ENDS