09 Sep 2019

The Vice President and chairman of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Mr Slumber Tsogwane has promised Boteti East electorate that BDP intends to diversify the economy and elevate it further.

Mr Tsogwane said this on Sunday during the launch of Boteti East prospective parliamentary candidate Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe in Letlhakane.

He said the aim was to see every Motswana playing a significant role in uplifting the country’s economy, producing locally made products and selling farm produce from their farms.

He said the President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had brought a renewed hope to Batswana, citing that in Boteti, people had lost interest in ploughing since wildlife destroyed their fields, but with the recent lifting of the hunting ban, people now had high hopes to venture into farming.

He promised Batswana universal and digital education, stating that internet service had been made accessible in all junior and senior schools, adding the plan was to roll it out to primary schools.

He hailed BDP founding fathers’ vision of ensuring that all mineral resources in Botswana were for national development, saying that had afforded Botswana a strong and sound government.

Mr Tsogwane said President Dr Masisi travelled to other countries to look for investors that could help transform the country’s economy.

He cautioned the electorate against being misled by opposition parties as they were inexperienced in running a government.

BDP, he said, had produced an implementable manifesto.

For his part, Shashe West prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Fidelis Molao urged Boteti voters to stand united in securing the future of BDP in Boteti East constituency.

He informed the electorate that the plan was to make Boteti a fully-fledged district. Under BDP, he said all tribes in Botswana were recognised and any Motswana had the right to be appointed as a president, vice president or MP.

Mr Molao further said the BDP  aimed to ensure that Batswana were self-employed and created job opportunities for other Batswana.

Furthermore, he stated that assets and liabilities declaration bill had been introduced to protect and secure Batswana’s property and revenue.

Whilst Mr Ignatius Moswaane said opposition parties were conflict ridden and had a short lifespan, therefore he implored the electorate to vote for a party that had a traceable track record.

The constitution of Botswana, he said, was established to be respected and obeyed by each and every Motswana.

Mr Moswaane said the constitution therefore enabled Botswana’s president to rule without fear or favour, as he was protected by the law.

He warned the electorate not to be tempted to vote for opposition parties.

Another speaker at the launch, the Serowe North parliamentary hopeful, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said 2019 was the time to vote for a responsible and sound government with plans to advance the economic future of Batswana. Mr Autlwetse said they should not be misled by empty promises from opposition parties.

He stated that appointing a government deserved to be treated with seriousness. Boteti, he said, was a tourist corridor and had the potential to attract tourists and investors.

Meanwhile, the Vice President also launched Mopipi council candidate hopeful, Mr Ofentse Gabalathane on Saturday, where he stated that the BDP manifesto was practical as some of its programmes had already been implemented.

Mr Tsogwane, who is also the Boteti West prospective parliamentary candidate urged the electorate to internalise the BDP manifesto, saying BDP had freed Batswana from poverty and high unemployment rate.

He stated since President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi assumed office, Batswana had been given hope for a renewed government with programmes and policies aimed at improving their livelihoods.

Salaries for public officers, he said, would be increased looking at the economic growth rate as well as unemployment rate in the country.

He said through consultation with Batswana, the BDP government had abolished the use of electronic voting machine which most Batswana did not support.

He further noted that lack of water in Boteti would be addressed through the Boteti Southern Water cluster project funded by World Bank, adding that electricity installation would soon be undertaken in Kedia village.

Mr Tsogwane said the game-proof fence from Moremaoto to Sookwane at Makgadikgadi would also be installed at a location preferred by members of the community.

He said his office had set up a trust, indicating that it already had two tractors and ploughs to be used by the community. ENDs