15 Apr 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi has described Mochudi East constituency hopeful, Mpho Moruakgomo as a responsible leader whom Bakgatla can trust with their vote.

Speaking during Moruakgomo’s official launch in Mochudi on April 14, President Masisi said he was blessed and honoured to be launching Mochudi East candidate as he was his first since he ascended to the presidency.

He implored Bakgatla in Mochudi East to make sure they vote wisely by voting Mr Moruakgomo as he would be useful in Parliament.

Mr Masisi said he needed people of Moruakgomo’s calibre to go to Parliament as he knew they would bring change and help government achieve its goals.

He said he knew him as a leader of repute and his contributions as a member of rural development council showed that he was a man determined and committed to lead and bring change in whatever he had been assigned to do.

President Masisi appealed to voters to make sure they go and vote in large numbers on April 21 to ensure he goes to Parliament.

He further encouraged the campaign team to undertake a serious campaign to solidify Botswana Democratic Party’s win.

President Masisi, who is also the leader of BDP, said his party was determined to create employment for the youth and come up with ways of enhancing employment creation.

He said as much as the former President, Festus Mogae fought the HIV/AIDS scourge, he would likewise do all that he could to create jobs for the youth.   

He further said if there was need to change things that delayed the process of job creation, such stumbling blocks would be immediately dealt with. 

He added that the reason Mr Moruakgomo was needed was because he had worked with the youth for a long time and would help government with its mandate of employment creation for the youth.

The BDP leader said voters should make sure they win Mochudi East just as they did with Moshupa/Manyana constituency, which became vacant after he became President.

Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso encouraged Bakgatla in Mochudi East to vote for Mr Moruakgomo and encouraged those who did not vote in 2014 to vote in large numbers this time around.

She further said all those who were outside the constituency, but had registered should come and vote.

When giving a campaign brief, Member of Parliament for Shoshong, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, who is leading the campaign, said they believed they could win the constituency, especially considering the number of voters who did not vote in the last general elections.

He said last time they lost the constituency to the opposition by a little over 800 votes while more than 2 000 BDP members did not vote, which means they needed to intensify the campaign to encourage them to vote.

Mr Makgalemele further said they had been blessed to be fielding a sellable candidate who had worked tirelessly for this country.

He said ever since his hey days at BNYC, he had proved that he was a leader of repute.

He added that Mr Moruakgomo was an expert in agricultural and local governance and a driver of development.

He said with a few days left, all had to be done for the democrats to win the constituency.

Mr Lotty Manyapedza also asked Bakgatla to vote for the visionary leader in Moruakgomo.

He said from a young age, he had shown that he was a leader and had worked tirelessly to help many youth realise their dreams.

Mr Manyapedza further said even the opposition had trusted him to lead Kgatleng District Council because they saw a good leader in him, hence the need for him to be voted to Parliament.

For his part, Mr Moruakgomo said the time had come for Bakgatla to vote for him to lead them in the development of the constituency.

He said he would do the will of the people if they trust him with their votes.

Mr Moruakgomo said this was not the time to settle scores with him and if he had wronged some people they should accept his apology and vote for him so he could bring change to the constituency.

He said it was an honour for him to be launched by the President, adding that he had four focus areasnamely; youth development, education, agriculture as well as eco and agro tourism.

Mochudi East bye-election is scheduled for April 21.

It comes after the death of Mr Isaac Davids, who represented the constituency in Parliament.

The President was accompanied by some Members of Parliament. ENDS