17 Sep 2019

Former minister and MP for Francistown East, Ms Joy Phumaphi, says it is an undeniable fact that Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) led government had taken Botswana through an impressive development path since independence in 1966.

Ms Phumaphi said this at the launch of the BDP prospective parliamentary candidate for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy and six council prospective candidates, who will be vying for political office during this year’s general elections due October 23.

She said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was promoting an inclusive economy, where every Motswana would not only have a share of the national cake, but was expected to meaningfully participate in the growth of the economy.

“Let us heed President Masisi’s call to defend the gains achieved thus far and give BDP yet another mandate to run the affairs of this country,” she said.

BDP, she said, was alive to the many challenges faced by this country, especially the issue of unemployment; something she stated was being addressed if the recent policy direction including passing of some bills during the previous parliamentary session was anything to go by.

The party’s parliamentary hopeful for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane assured democrats and Batswana in general that BDP was working round the clock to further improve their welfare.

He told them that President Masisi had as such hit the ground running upon assuming the reins of both the party and government last year, in an effort to bring into Botswana’s shores investors who could set up businesses and create the much needed employment.

Also, Mr Moswaane dismissed as untrue the narrative that BCL and Tati Nickel mines were closed without valid reasons. 

“The truth is that, painful as it is, that decision was unavoidable and had to be taken because the two mines were running at a loss,” he said, adding that BDP was keeping its fingers crossed that the commodity prices for copper and nickel would continue to appreciate so that the mines could possibly be opened.

Mr Moswaane said the same goes for BMC Francistown, which he said was closed prior to the enactment of the bill to privatise it during the last parliamentary seating.

The closure, he said, was necessitated by farmers’ failure to supply the abattoir with adequate daily quota for slaughter, which rendered it profitless.

Palapye parliamentary hopeful, Mr Moiseraele Goya expressed happiness that the BDP was endowed with able leadership that could rise to the many challenges bedeviling the nation, a trend he said had transcended Domkrag generations of leaders.

He assured Batswana that the able leadership of President Masisi would see the nation through. 

To achieve the feat, Mr Goya called on democrats to pull together in one direction and shun any move to divide them. 

He therefore called on Francistown East constituents to vote for Mr Billy and the prospective council candidates.

Francistown East will be contested for by four parties being Alliance for Progressives represented by Ms Theresa Mmolawa, Botswana Patriotic Front by Mr James Kgalajwe, Botswana Democratic Party by Mr Billy and Umbrella for Democratic Change represented by Mr Morgan Moseki in nthe coming election. ends