01 Jul 2019

 Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members have been urged to unite and vote for BDP Kgalagadi South prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Sam Brooks and his councillors in the upcoming general elections. 

The call was made by Vice President and party chairperson, Mr Slumber Tsogwane when launching the candidates in Tsabong on June 29. 

He urged BDP members to defend the future of the country by voting for the party, saying it had over the years ensured Batswana enjoyed peace, security and economic prosperity. 

Opposition parties, he said, could not be trusted with leading the nation, and that they were embroiled in internal power struggles. 

He added that their main campaign message was that the ruling party had led Botswana for too long and had nothing new to offer. 

That, he said, was without base. He noted that the BDP was led by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi who had ushered in a wave of renewed hope. 

He said through Dr Masisi’s sound leadership, Botswana was gradually being steered towards the envisaged knowledge-based economy.

He noted that the BDP had ruled since 1966, adding that Batswana must continue to vote for it as it had fresh ideas to move Botswana forward. 

He also acknowledged that Dr Masisi’s presidency was faced with challenges such as the mushrooming of breakaway parties and tough opposition. 

That, he said, was on account of Dr Masisi’s outstanding leadership and the fact that he wanted equal opportunities for all Batswana and was against corruption.

He urged Batswana to rally behind President Masisi by voting for the BDP in all 57 constituencies to ensure that he achieved his vision of transforming lives. 

He said the BDP was traversing through muddy terrains hence it was critical for democrats to unite and recruit new members to the party to ensure victory in the upcoming general elections. 

Former BDP councillor, Mr Tshipietsile Mothelesi reiterated Mr Tsogwane’s assertion that the party needed to unite more than ever before. He said independent candidates and a breakaway party necessitated BDP members to distinguish between truth offered by theruling party and the fallacy presented by opposition parties. 

He highlighted that the BDP had been tried and tested over the years, and that it had never been defeated as it stood for the truth and was rooted in meeting the needs of the people.

He advised BDP members not to be derailed by opposition politicians who made empty promises.

BDP Gaborone region chairperson, Mr Lotty Manyepetsa took a swipe at Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) prospective parliamentary candidate for Kgalagadi South, Dr Micus Chimbombi, saying he failed to deliver during his tenure as a senior civil servant.

Incumbent Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen, who lost BDP primaries after garnering 1 913 against 3 217 votes, rallied democrats to support Mr Brooks. 

He said BDP members who lost primary elections tended to ditch the party and stand for elections as independent candidates or join the opposition as well as form parties. 

That, he said, was an ill-will intention by members who had self-serving interests and did not look at the bigger picture of the party. 

“This party has a solid structure that was laid by Sir Seretse Kham, but some of the members are busy destroying it. After losing primary elections as Frans, I should not be seen to be discrediting my party or even going outside the country to tarnish the image of my country,” he said.

He said while in parliament, he strived to get some projects done such as road infrastructure, health facility upgrading, resuscitation of the Lobu Smallstock Farm and a small stock abbatoir. 

He urged Kgalagadi South residents to vote for Mr Brooks to continue from where he had left.  

For his part, Mr Brooks, who had been Tsabong South councillor for over 20 years, said he brought a wealth of experience and wanted to position Kgalagadi as a unique tourism destination of choice. He added that he would focus on developing tourism infrastructure, improving poor education results and engaging the private sector to lure investors into Kgalagadi.

In 2013, Mr Brooks stood for BDP primary elections against Mr Van Der Westhuizen and lost with a slim margin.

Questioned on what had brought him back to politics, he said he had always wanted to finish what he started which was to lead people and ensure that ideas that he pushed for as a councillor were brought to fruition through implementation.  ENDS