24 Sep 2017

President Lt. Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has called on residents of Tshimoyapula to vote for Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) council hopeful, Mr Katholo Tapologo during October 7 bye-election.

He said Tshimoyapula/ Majwanaadipitse had always been a BDP ward and should remain so.

President Khama said this during a BDP rally in Tshimoyapula on September 22 that he had popped into tovisit and interact with residents.

He said BDP was the only party with the experience and potential to lead the country into the future, adding that since the organisation led the country in 1966, peace and prosperity had always prevailed.

President Khama, who is also former Member of Parliament for the area, noted that opposition parties or the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) could not be entrusted to manage the affairs of the country since it was engulfed in conflict.

He said the Botswana Movement Democracy (BMD) split after the party’s congress in Bobonong.

Opposition parties, he said, had always been engulfed in conflict resulting in formation of new parties.

He said the BNF gave birth to BCP after the leadership conflict and now the BMD had taken the same route resulting in the formation of a new party, something he said threatened the survival of UDC.

On the contrary, the BDP he said, had always been a strong party that  led to opposition parties joining forces in an effort to oust it, but still failed to win the hearts of Batswana.

 He said BDP would continue to win votes from Batswana in 2019 and the future.

President Khama said Botswana had always been a progressive and peaceful country and this he attributed to the good leadership of BDP.

He said if opposition parties that were currently embroiled in fights could be given the responsibility of governing the country, it would be prone to conflict, resulting in Botswana falling back.

He said Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi was due to hold a star rally at Tshimoyapula a day before the bye election.

For his part, Serowe North constituency Member of Parliament which Tshimoyapula falls under, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, thanked President Khama for visiting the village and interacting with the democrats in the area.

He also shared the same views with President Khama that the opposition movement was embroiled in too many conflict to be entrusted with leading the country.

He said BDP had never been in a situation where it found itself having two party presidents and executive committees as it happened with the BMD after Bobonong congress.

Mr Autlwetse said UDC was on the verge of collapsing and Batswana should not rely on an organisation that was not well organised to lead the country.

The BDP Serowe North branch chairperson, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said President Khama’s visit cemented BDP’s hold in the area.

Tshimoyapula/Majwanaadipitse ward council seat became vacant after the death of the area councillor, Mr Leposo Mosarwa.

The council bye-election is due to take place on October 7 and will be contested by BDP, UDC and an independent candidate. ENDS