19 Oct 2014

As the clock ticks faster to October 24 for Batswana to go to the polls, the leader of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central has pleaded with the electorate to give his party a chance to govern Botswana.

Speaking at BCP's Re A Fenya mega rally, Mr Dumelang Saleshando said his party had been preparing itself to lead for the past 16 years and as such, the time had come for Batswana to trust the BCP by giving it the mandate to govern.

“The Botswana Democratic Party has been leading for 48 years and we are asking for five years and after that five years Batswana can then compare how we have fared compared to the 48 years of BDP,” he said.

He said the youth of Botswana was desperate for jobs , saying the current government had been exporting jobs as they were concentrating on production of raw materials.  “We need those jobs back in Botswana and I promise that if we are given the mandate to run this country, we will create those jobs here,” he said.

The BCP leader said the mining exports from this country had for years been creating jobs in other countries and it was high time Batswana did those jobs Mr Saleshando further said the performance of the education sector had been taking a nose dive over the years and it was time for the BCP to be given a chance to fix the sector.

“Time and again President Khama does not have a clue as to who should run the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. It is either ministers are fired or acting,” he said.

He stressed the need to have children taught in their mother tongue as this would give them a chance to progress well in life. He also spoke against corruption, which he said was becoming rampant in the country. 

The BCP has been for the past four weeks travelling the length and breadth of Botswana canvassing for support. “We have met and seen Batswana and they need something new that works,” said Mr Saleshando.

For his part, the BCP parliamentary candidate for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi said the BDP had run its course and it was time for change. He said Batswana should shun the BDP and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) at the polls and vote for the BCP.

"Mr Saleshando has proved himself to be a cut above the rest and he should be the one going to the State House,” Mr Rammidi said.The Re A Fenya Mega Rally was also attended by some election observers from SADC countries. Batswana will on October 24 go to the polls to vote for a government of their choice. ENDS