13 Oct 2014

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) president, Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says the campaign for the general elections is more intensive when compared to the last elections.

Addressing political rallies in the Francistown South, East and West constituencies on October 11, President Khama said through the party’s intensified campaign, Batswana realised that they should not associate with opposition parties.

That, he said, was because he welcomed new members to the party in all political rallies he addressed throughout the country; 235 in Hukuntsi, 143 in Ngami while over 2 000 were welcomed in the Jwaneng/Mabutsane area last year.

Thus, he urged Batswana to elect leaders who had botho, were responsible, trustworthy and loved people. He added that these qualities were predominant in the BDP candidates. Furthermore he urged electorates to vote for the BDP, which prioritised dignity and development of people’s lives.

He told them that the BDP government had, to date, created 49 000 employment opportunities for Batswana through the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and over 6 000 through the Youth Development Fund (YDF). He added that the Ipelegeng programme employed 67 000 Batswana even though his government regarded it as temporary relief.

Also, he noted that with signs of improvement in the economy, government would revisit the programme’s remuneration and the number of people enrolled. The diamond industry, he said, had created a further 3 700 jobs from the 21 companies that dealt with cutting and polishing.

He added that companies, which that specialised in diamond jewellery will be opened in Botswana next year and in turn create more employment opportunities.

Furthermore, the BDP leader urged Francistown residents to vote for the BDP on October 24 so that the party would be able to implement the project earmarked for the old Tati Town primary school.

Francistown West parliamentary candidate, Mr Ignatius Moswaane urged electorates to vote for the BDP because it had programmes that aimed at empowering Batswana.

Mr Moswaane said unlike the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leaders, President Khama had a heart to serve every Motswana including the old, the poor and the young.

He further assured Lt Gen Khama that the BDP will win Francistown West constituency adding that BCP’s leadership in the constituency was only temporary. Francistown East parliamentary candidate, Mr Buti Billy said he was hopeful that after October 24, BDP in Francistown will celebrate victory.

He said voting for the three BDP parliamentary candidates in Francistown will help them form a team that will better advocate for developments in the city. He was also optimistic that his party would retain the four wards that it lost to the BCP in the 2009 general elections.

Francistown South parliamentary candidate, Ms Sylvia Muzila urged constituents to vote for her saying having an opposition MP has led to delay in the uptake of government empowerment programmes.

Ms Muzila said the former MP did not have time to take programmes to the constituents as he was rather busy with the formation of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and the UDC.

Former Francistown East MP, Mr Phandu Skelemani said BDP deserved to be voted back into power because during its tenure it availed services key to lives of Batswana such as health and education, among others.

BDP national campaign manager, Mr Alec Seametso criticised opposition parties for alleging that the BDP would rig votes during election. He said since elections were run by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which also engaged public servants, he wondered whether opposition parties did not trust both the commission and public officers.

Mr Seametso said was also surprised why opposition parties could claim to be better placed to represent the needs of public servants when they did not trust them.

BDP secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi said his party was the only party that would ensure peace and stability that prevailed continue. ENDS