18 Aug 2019

Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has cautioned Botswana Democratic Party members to take the approaching general election with utmost seriousness for the party to retain power.

Speaking during the BDP launch of Kgalagadi North prospective parliamentary candidate Ms Talitha Monnakgotla and prospective council candidates, Mr Tsogwane, also BDP chairperson,  said the year 2019 was an eventful one and urged all democrats to coordinate and demonstrate an inspirational representation to win voters confidence.

He encouraged candidates to conduct themeselves with respect and to be disciplined in order to promote the party’s mandate and reduce the possibilities of hostile perceptions about the party.

The Vice President encouraged the electorate to rally behind the BDP as he said it was destined to improve the lives of the citizens such as creating job opportunities.

He encouraged them to vote BDP candidates who would enable the party to deliver its promises to the voters against opposition parties with empty promises that lacked backing.

He said unlike the opposition, BDP relied on the economic intelligence union forecast.

He said the union’s economic forecast report indicated that from 2019-2023 the country’s economy would progress steadily,  but uninformed decisions may lead to the country’s economy instantly dwindling.

Mr Tsogwane said BDP had visionary leadership as they moved to close the BCL Mine and opened more mines that he said would aid in growing the mineral sector.

He said the forecast of Khoemacu Mine production was expected to be around 60 000 tonnes of diamonds per year.

However, he challenged voters to desist from solely relying on minerals, as he said the industry was faced with challenges as the buying power was prone to decline in the future.

Athother party member, Mr Abel Monnakgotla described Ms Monnakgotla as a bold person, saying she was the first woman in the Kgalagadi constituency to contest for the parliamentary seat.

He also described her as a ‘proficient’ person and result-oriented and said if the constituents could vote her she would deliver diligently on her duties.

Mr Monnakgotla also urged party veterans to ensure that they reached out to the new entrants in the political field to teach them the political ropes.

For her part, Ms Monnakgotla lauded her political predecessors, as she said they played a major role in bringing development in their economically disadvantaged area.

She said if voted into power she would advocate for more infrastructural developments like accessible roads that connect Lokgwabe and Tsabong and other roads that connect their settlements for ease of movement.

Ms Monnakgotla said she would also advocate for Hukuntsi Sub-district to be upgraded to a fully-fledged district.

Moreover, she said she would work hard to secure lucrative small stock markets so that farmers could have profitable returns. Ends