03 Mar 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says government is committed to effectively tackling the issue of human-wildlife conflict that has been going on for a long time in the country.

Addressing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) North West regional congress in Shakawe on Saturday, he said government would explore all possible means to ensure reduction or even an end to the conflict.

On another issue, the President said his government would want to see Batswana participating more in the country’s economy, particularly in the tourism sector.

Dr Masisi also said employment creation was one of the top priorities of the current government, adding that soon many jobs would be created in the North West region through the opening of some mines after some explorations were done in some parts of the North West.

Dr Masisi said about P5.9 billion would be used in the project and that the mines would be the first in the country to be of high technology.

On another issue, the President said government was highly committed to tackling the issue of corruption taking place in Botswana.

Meanwhile, Dr Masisi appealed to BDP members in the North West region to remain united and support one another to take the party forward and eventually win the 2019 elections.

He also appealed to democrats to support him as it had always the been the norm at the BDP, however adding that he was not afraid to be challenged.

Dr Masisi also said the running of the BDP was influenced by the Setswana culture of Botho and peace, therefore advised that those who seemed deviant within the party should not be voted.

“When you are working with me, I want discipline, hard work and honesty,” he said.

Further, Dr Masisi noted that he was a true democrat who wanted peace within the party and the country at large, therefore promised transparent, free and fair general elections.

Nonetheless, North West regional secretary, Mr Clement Bethia said the welfare of the party in their region was not without challenges and the most disturbing one was indiscipline such as structure members campaigning for would be candidates at Bulela Ditswe.

He also mentioned polarising party membership by some of the politicians and a strong desire to control party structures by some of the politicians, as some of the challenges faced by the region.

“There are reports that some members of our structures are physically fighting and threatening to overrun each other with cars,” he said.

He further said the only reason why a politician would want to control a party structure was to unfairly influence it against their opponent, while in a case of Bulela Ditswe such a structure could be used to unfairly recommend vetting out of some candidates. Ends