05 Mar 2018

Electorates in Salajwe ward in Takatokwane constituency have been urged to work hard to ensure that the ward returns to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the next general elections.

Speaking during a political rally at Salajwe organised to welcome new members to the party on March 3, the chairperson of the party’s political education and elections committee, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said most Batswana were now realising that opposition parties promised them a mirage during the build up to the 2014 general elections and that most of those people were now disillusioned.

He hailed the new members for having found it fit to solicit a new political home at BDP, which he said had since its formation declared that it would never promise electorates the impossible.

“Since the times of our forefathers like Sir Seretse Khama, the BDP has always made it clear that it will never promise Batswana things that are impossible to achieve, and that is why we have remained relevant even to this day, unlike the opposition that promises things that are not reasonably achievable,” he said.

Mr Matlhabaphiri, who is also the BDP candidate for Molepolole North, indicated that challenges such as slow developments are just a hurdle that will be overcome towards prosperity.

He said it was surprising that opposition parties wanted Batswana to trust them with their vote even though themselves they did not trust each other, and that it was the intention of the BDP to win all the constituencies and wards currently in the hands of the opposition come 2019.

He said the fact that there were eight parliamentary candidates who were not opposed indicated that there was tranquillity in the BDP.

For his part, Member of Parliament for Takatokwane constituency, Mr Ngaka Ngaka promised the electorates that he would continue fighting for the tarring of the Letlhakeng Kaudwane road, which was one of the major development concerns for the area.

He said even though the road was not included in any development plans, it did not mean that all was lost. Mr Ngaka said that the road had been a major talking point by opposition parties, and wondered what they would use to discredit the BDP once it was tarred.

Mr Ngaka also urged more people to join the BDP as it had played a major part in improving the lives of the citizens, including ensuring some of the best health care and social safety nets programmes in the continent.

He also cautioned members of the BDP to be wary of the support they got from the opposition parties, saying that in most cases, it was meant to cause conflict in the BDP so that the opposition could take advantage.

Nominated councillor for Salajwe ward, Mr Keganeditswe Letshwenyo said he had trust that the electorate in the Salajwe ward “have learnt from your mistake of voting in the opposition in 2014, and that you will not repeat the mistake.”

He also advised members of the party in the area that working for the party was not only the duty of the councillor, but the whole membership, and urged new members to join in recruiting more members to the party.

A total of 46 new members were welcomed. ENDS