09 Sep 2019

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women’s Wing chairperson, Ms Dorcas Makgato says there is still no party that can rule the country better than BDP, hence the need for voters to retain it.

Speaking at the launch of Gaborone Central parliamentary hopeful, Mr Tumisang Healy and six councillors on Saturday, the Sefhare/Ramokgonami prospective parliamentary candidate said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi should be given a chance to rule because his roadmap of transforming the economy was already visible, owing to the transformative reforms in place.

She said President Masisi had the interests of Batswana at heart, citing the resolution to uplift the hunting ban following a thorough consultation with Batswana about the topical human/wildlife conflict, which continued to be a menace to Batswana.

Ms Makgato said Batswana should support President Masisi on the issue because the stockpiled elephant trophies were worth about a billion pula, which could be used for infrastructure development that would generate employment.

“We have turned to be a victim of our own success because now these animals’ population had come back to haunt us because we created a safe haven for them for many years,” she said.

Furthermore, Ms Makgato praised President Masisi for fighting corruption through his support for Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Bill intended to reduce corruption to minimal levels in the country.

“These are ideals of a good leader and he should be given a chance to rule,” she said.

Ms Makgato also said BDP manifesto promises to transform the economy from resource based to a knowledge basedone, review land legislation to make it possible for individuals to use their land for tourism and other businesses, open up tourism space for Batswana and improve labour relations.

“We view trade unions and workers as partners in building the country’s economy.

This is why President Masisi has engaged them within his first few days in office,” she said.

For his part, Mr Healy implored voters to vote for him, saying the track record of BDP spoke volumes, owing to the visible developments within the country and Gaborone Central constituency, which include a clinic at Maruapula, which was built through the Constituency Development Fund.

He said the constituency fund was an initiative of BDP and was not discriminatory because it was extended to all constituencies.

Mr Healy also said Batswana should use the opportunity to open small businesses encouraged by BDP’s inclusive economy as outlined in the party manifesto through business transformative reforms such as ease of doing business.

Mr Healy further said the envisaged Constitutional Amendment Review in the BDP manifesto was a welcome development because the current constitution had been overtaken by developments and that it was not inclusive of the current youth because it had been used for the past 53 years.

“President Masisi is very considerate of the youth population that was not there when the constitution was compiled years ago.

He wants us to own our constitution,” he said.

He lauded President Masisi’s spirit of consultation as it was pivotal in the ruling of the country. ENDs