18 Apr 2016

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairperson, Mr Mokgweetsi  Masisi has implored the residents of Phillip Matante East ward in the Francistown South Constituency to vote for the party’s council candidate in large numbers in the April 23 bye-election.

Speaking at the launch of Mr Peter Nare as the party’s council candidate on Saturday, Mr Masisi encouraged Phillip Matante East residents to make sure the party won the bye-election.

Mr Masisi implored democrats to convince everybody who registered in the 2014 general elections to vote for BDP in the bye-elections as it was “the only party with sound policies and programmes.”

He said even after winning the bye-election, members should not rest on their laurels but should start campaigning for 2019 general elections.

Mr Masisi said democrats should preach BDP policies and programmes to the people even those in the opposition as way of winning them into joining them. He reminded them to abide by the BDP constitution and also observe the rule of law.

Another speaker, Mr Keneilwe Monageng said the BDP was the only party that deserved to be voted because it had already proved its competency of leading the country.He said Mr Nare should be voted into the council because he would join a network of MPs and cabinet ministers in the ruling party to deliver services to his voters.

Ms Ponatshego Tshiping encouraged the residents to make sure their  Omang and 2014 voter registration cards were ready and safely kept for April 23.Mr Lotty Manyapedza said it was high time people stopped trusting the opposition parties as they denied them opportunity to benefit from “good BDP programmes.”

He urged the youth to take advantage of government programmes adding that he realised very late that he wasted his time by opposing instead of benefiting from the programmes.

Mr Manyapedza said BDP was the only party competent enough to lead Botswana and it had proved so during crisis such as that of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and HIV/AIDS.He said he was confident that should the party be given more years in power it would eradicate poverty in the country.

Mr Mephato Reatile criticised the opposition leadership saying they were weak and failing to address issues in parliament. He observed that during the era when Mr Dumelang Saleshando was the Leader of Opposition he handled issues better.

Mr Nare implored the residents to vote for him adding that he understood development challenges in the ward better than the opposition candidate, Mr Uyapo Nyeku.

He accused Mr Nyeku for claiming to be a resident of the ward while he was not, adding that this was a sign that he could not be trusted. At the launch new members were welcomed into the BDP and their representative, Mr Chingombe Modikwa thanked the party for welcoming them ENDS