10 Apr 2016

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) leader, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has encouraged democrats in Philip Matante East ward in the Francistown South constituency to rally behind the party’s council candidate, Mr Peter Nare, in the April 23 bye-election.

Speaking at a BDP in-house meeting on Saturday at Montsamaisa secondary school, Dr Khama said “there is still no alternative party to the BDP that can take the country forward.”

He said as the 2019 general elections are approaching, democrats should “correct the mistakes of allowing the opposition parties to win some of the constituencies and wards that were BDP strongholds.”

He said only through unity and rallying behind candidates who won the party’s primary elections, the BDP can continue to not only retain its strongholds but also win areas that were known to be opposition strongholds.

He said it was only through unity that the BDP managed to win the Sekoma Ward in the Jwaneng/Mabutsane constituency, an area which has been in the opposition for the past 22 years.  Dr Khama said it is only through hard work that the party can grow and attract members from the opposition parties.

He said during the just ended party council, new members from the opposition parties were welcomed to the ruling party and he was delighted that most of them were not ordinary members but former election candidates.

 Dr Khama encouraged democrats to recruit new members to the party and encouraged Batswana in general to vote for the BDP in the 2019 general elections. 

He said the BDP has proved to international observers that it is capable citing that under the  BDP reign, Botswana was rated one of the least corrupt countries in Africa and was position 31 out of 162 countries in the most peaceful nations.

He said in terms of promoting tourism and attracting tourists, Botswana was rated in the first category worldwide. He said the country was also placed in the first position in handling HIV/AIDS.  Dr Khama said the BDP government will continue to empower Batswana through its sound programmes explaining that the LIMID and ISPAAD programmes are not stopped but only suspended to allow for review.

He said BDP’s government priority number one is employment creation hence the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and the second priority is eradication of abject poverty. He explained that the Poverty Eradication Programme is bearing fruits and some of the leaders from the international community continue to visit Botswana to benchmark on the programme.

The Phillip Matante East campaign manager, Mr Moyo Guma thanked those who stood with Mr Nare in the primary elections for working and supporting the party during the campaigns. He welcomed new members into the party and urged democrats to work harmoniously with them. Mr Guma encouraged democrats to be guided by the principle of botho during their campaign and urged them not to emulate the opposition parties by attacking others’ personalities.

Mr Guma said it is only through unity that the BDP can win the ward. BDP Secretary General, Mr Botsalo Ntuane urged democrats to ensure that the party wins the ward not only in the April 23 bye-election but also in the 2019 general elections.

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane urged Batswana to refrain from electing opposition representatives adding the current chaos at Parliament are an indication that should they rule, the country will become chaotic. Ends