11 Sep 2019

Floating tenders of the Mandunyane /Mathangwane road and water networking improvement projects is not meant to entice voters but to fulfill promises made to the electorate.

This was said by the Botswana Democratic Party parliamentary hopeful for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao during a Radio Botswana debate at Chamabona junior secondary school in Mathangwane on Tuesday.

Mr Molao is contesting the 2019 Shashe West parliamentary seat with three other prospective candidates namely, Mr Blackie Ndwapi of the Botswana Patriotic Front, Mr Alfred Mashongwa of Umbrella for Democratic Change and Mr Keagile Gaoreme of Alliance for Progressives.

The BDP prospective parliamentary candidate said publishing tender notices for the said projects aimed at delivering services to the people and implementing developments contained in the National Development Plan

Mr Molao said his party was committed to serving Batswana by keeping to its promises and National Development Plan.

In addition, Mr Molao mentioned that the construction of the road was going to change the economy of the constituency.

He however explained that at first the project was in the 2008/2009 financial year, but due to global recession which also affected Botswana, the project was put on hold. Regarding the water shortage challenges faced by many villages in the constituency, Mr Molao said funds had been secured to help improve the water network to give Batswana portable water.

He said government had also formulated laws that would enable Batswana to undertake agro-tourism businesses by only registering it to show that they had started such businesses, prior to the processing of business certificates.

For his part, Mr Mashongwa pleaded with the constituents to take him to Parliament, adding that under the UDC rule, young people would be equipped with skills to be globally marketable.

The UDC government, he added would ensure that Batswana were empowered to have decent lives, noting that it would be done through increasing the living wage.

He stated that areas located along the Shashe River would be turned into a production hub where horticulture would be undertaken to feed the greater Francistown.

Mr Mashongwa said the increased production, would ultimately open up opportunities for employment for the young people roaming the streets.

As for the BPF prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Ndwapi said people’s daily activities had been disrupted for many years by the critical water shortages in the area.

He added residents should vote for him, as he would ensure that the boreholes that were used to supply water before Water Utilities Corporation took over the service ,were resuscitated.

This, he said would enable constant supply with more boreholes being drilled to augment the water from the dams. Meanwhile, the AP’s prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Gaoreme said voting for AP would be a guarantee to the electorate that mismanagement of funds and corruption would be addressed. ends