19 Aug 2019

A fierce battle for a seat in the 12th Parliament is expected in October as three candidates contest for Good Hope-Mabule constituency. 

During a live radio broadcast debate recently prospective Parliamentary candidates promised to tackle challenges of water shortage, unemployment as well as agriculture yield, among others, head-on once voted to Parliament. 

Alliance for Progressives (AP) Parliamentary candidate, Mr Tumisang Letlakana said he would fight poverty and unemployment among the youth. He argued that the ruling party had failed Barolong since poverty and water supply had not stabilised in the area. 

Mr Letlakana said to address unemployment, AP intended to develop industries in the area and also engineer use of cooperatives among the youth. 

He also said it was essential to alter the current education policy, and thus the party would look into assessing learners and train them in courses well-matched to their intellect. 

He also argued that even though Barolong were proud of their different cultures, there was need for revival and for all to appreciate each other’s way of life. 

On reviving agriculture he said, since the area was a farming centre, there was need to educate people on the sector and further fund farmers so as to turn it into a complete agricultural hub. 

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) hopeful, Mr Eric Molale said as the ruling party, developments to work on services that the party had already done was at the fore front. 

Mr Molale said to remedy the current water situation, the North-South carrier project was in place to provide Barolong with water. 

He also indicated that he would advocate to have Goodhope as a fully-fledged sub-district. 

He also said cluster farming also in the area was being improved through the ISPAAD which involved the use of infrastructure and digging of boreholes. 

He also said the BDP believed in consultation, and he was right candidate to be voted to Parliament. 

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) aspirant, Dr Patrick Molutsi said his party intended to create employment through industries like dairy farms, horticulture, among others. 

Dr Molutsi said he was concerned about the 61 million litres of milk which the country exported from outside markets. 

He said for 53 years, the ruling party had failed Barolong residents because the only four dairy farmers in the country were owned non-citizens. 

He said farming in the area was also transferred to Pandamatenga and Barolong were left in the lurch. 

As a farmer, he promised voters that having dairy farms in the area would be among other industries that would help create 100 000 jobs his party was promising Batswana. 

On another point, Dr Molutsi said there was need to refurbish government buildings, hence he was the right candidate to undertake, through the UDC government, projects that would remedy such anomalities in the area. 

He said he would also engage with relevant stakeholders to have the North-South water carrier improved so that it reached everyone and further consult with foreign farmers to bring farming knowledge in the area regarding growing nuts and sunflower. Ends