03 Oct 2014

 

Former Member of Parliament for Lentsweletau, who is now an independent candidate for Mmopane-Lentsweletau constituency, Maj. Gen. Moeng Pheto said he harbours no ambition of being president of the country.

Speaking at the launch of an independent candidate for Letlhakeng-Lephepe consistency, Mr Anderson Mathibe on Wednesday September 1 in Letlhakeng, Maj. Gen. Pheto said contrary to assertions that independent candidates are power hungry, their interest is mainly to improve the living standards of Batswana.

Maj. Gen. Pheto said the rulling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) mostly fears independent candidates, especially those from BDP, because they are aware of “secrets of how BDP mismanages the nation.”

Maj. Gen. Pheto urged the voters in the constituency to vote for Mr Mathibe, saying as an independent candidate, he will be free to express the needs of his people without fear of being reprimanded by a party caucus.

He said the practice of having independent candidates is common in more democratic countries such as England, and said it is time Batswana went the same route.

He also said the Kweneng district as a whole is trailing  other districts in as far as development is  concerned, citing lack of enough Sub-district councils as one of the problems.

Another speaker, Ms Mary Sola, an independent parliamentary candidate for Thamaga-Kumakwane constituency, decried what she said is the deteriorating level of freedom of expression in the country. She said contrary to what the ruling party has been preaching, the peace and tranquility that the country has been known for is because of the efforts of the nation at large and not BDP.

The independent council candidate for Mogoditshane Central North, Mr Kabelo Setlhako concurred with Maj. Gen. Pheto saying that challenges that bedevil the area such as poverty, poor education and health facilities need an independent candidate who can freely address them without being restrained by their party.

He advised Mr Mathibe to make thorough consultation on the issues so he can better advocate for them in parliament. Mr Setlhako said issues of poor education emanates from demoralised teachers as they are on low salaries and their conditions of service are poor.

For his part, Mr Mathibe urged the electorate to give him a chance, and said one of the issues he will address is that of the monopoly of the Botswana Meat Commission, saying he will advocate for Batswana to be allowed to directly export their cattle.

He said he will also advocate for the review of the land board policy which requires one to develop their residential plots within a period of five years to avoid repossession.

He said this is a tall order for those citizens who rely on Ipelegeng as the wages do not allow them to develop plots in such a short period of time. Mr Mathibe also expressed concern on health facilities in the area that he said run short of basic stuff such as blankets, saying they need his voice to be addressed. Ends