09 Sep 2019

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) manifesto has been deliberately written to emphasise a commitment to the creation of a labour intensive economy as a way of fighting poverty.

This, the party believes is the only route towards realising dignified livelihoods for Batswana.

UDC Vice President, Mr Dumelang Saleshando said when launching Tonota constituency prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Pono Moathodi and a team of potential councillors on Sunday.

 Mr Saleshando noted that this process could only be achieved through full beneficiation of the country’s natural resources by creating manufacturing and secondary industries within the country.

He informed voters in the constituency that countries such as Mauritius are not as blessed with mineral resources as Botswana, but have more people who are working due to economic policies that empower them.

Under the UDC, Mr Saleshando explained, Batswana would be able to enjoy the benefits accruing from the natural resources. On other issues, he mentioned that his party would make early childhood development a part of the school system, through the integration of pre-schools into the education structure.

 He also said that locals would be allowed to open their homes and run pre-schools with government paying school fees in the same way the current government is sponsoring students in private tertiary institutions.

Consequently, the UDC vice president highlighted that in line with United Nations conventions, if voted into office during the October 23 general elections, the UDC would introduce mother tongue instruction in schools.

Their commitment to increase the living wage, he noted, is informed by the premise that this would increase workers’ purchasing power and stimulate demand for goods and services.

He described Mr Moathodi as a seasoned and capable leader, who has proven himself for many years as a councillor, MP and as the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, adding that his leadership credentials and track record were thus unquestionable.

Mr Saleshando, therefore, urged them to give his party the opportunity to give them a better developmental approach by voting for Moathodi and a team of prospective councillors.

 Botswana Congress Party organising secretary, Mr Vain Mamela urged voters in Tonota to vote for change during the election,  noting that the UDC carries the hopes of Batswana who want to see improved economic livelihoods as spelled out in the manifesto.

He also mentioned that beneficiation under the UDC would be easy to implement, citing that they would use Soda Ash to manufacture fertilisers and expand the chemicals industry in the country.

Furthermore, he noted that the envisaged agricultural development bank under a UDC government, would go a long way in addressing the unique needs of farmers to boost food security and employment creation.

Furthermore, Mr Mamela said that his party would deploy specialist agricultural extension officers to boost production efficiency in the farms.

 For his part, Mr Moatlhodi said that he was hopeful of emerging victorious in the general election,  looking at the 19 500 people who had registered to vote in the Tonota constituency.

He, however, decried voter trafficking, which he said was rampant in the constituency.

If voted into Parliament, he said that he would prioritise land allocation to residents, especially the youth to boost their economic potential.

Currently, Mr Moatlhodi noted that Tonota Sub-land Board had a waiting list of 110 000 applicants, something he said was unsustainable.

He promised to lead negotiations with owners of fields near the village for them to hand over their land to the land board to alleviate land shortage.

In addition, he said that the UDC would tackle the challenge of student-teacher ratio to improve performance in schools.

Tonota constituency is one of those that have been won by the ruling party since the first general elections in 1965.

The veteran politician will square up against BDP’s Thapelo Olopeng during the October 23 general election. ENDs