05 Oct 2014

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) president, Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama is impressed at the manner in which democrats have intensified the 2014 election campaign. 

Speaking at a joint rally for Molepolole South and North recently, President Khama said he was happy that for the first time BDP members had engaged into serious election campaign.  Lt Gen. Khama  urged democrats to double their efforts to ensure that the BDP win with a big margin. 

He dismissed opposition parties campaigns saying they were fond of character assassination, deliberately aimed at tarnishing the name of the BDP’s leadership, turning a blind eye to what  BDP did to develop Botswana. 

He said he was disappointed that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was still using their late stalwart, Mr Gomolemo Motswaledi to campaign instead of giving the family time to heal and get closure on the loss of their loved one. 

On other issues Lt Gen. Khama said for UDC to have wanted to be associated with South Africa’s recently formed Economic Freedom Party (EFF) leader Mr Julius Malema shows that “they are birds of the same feather.” 

He however advised Batswana to understand that the constant behavior portrayed by Mr Malema and his team does not in any way resemble that of South Africans.  “I wonder why UDC would want to be associated with EFF especially a person of Malema’s caliber,” President Khama said. 

Lt Gen. Khama further announced that the former Member of Parliament for Ngwaketse South Mr Peter Siele will head a task force that will audit this year’s Bulela Ditswe and suggest improvements and report to the BDP congress next year.

“I am aware of the fact that Bulela Ditswe results might have rubbed certain democrats the wrong way, but it is imperative that we bury our differences and prepare for the one that will come in the next four years,” he said.

Meanwhile the BDP campaign manager Mr Alec Seametso praised BDP’s commitment towards uplifting lives of the underprivileged.  He dismissed opposition parties’ condemnation over government programmes such as Ipelegeng and related programmes arguing that they enjoy dwelling on negativity while actually benefiting fully on such programmes. 

“The reason they discourage Batswana from benefiting from these programmes was merely based on fear of losing cheap labour for meager allowance.”  Mr Kwelagobe advised democrats to be vigilant over certain individual party members reportedly betraying them by rallying behind independent candidates. Ends