22 Sep 2019

Five parliamentary candidates will battle for Francistown West constituency in the October 23 general elections.

Alliance for Progressives (AP) will be represented by Mr Dira Moalosi,  Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) - Mr Ignatius Moswaane, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) - Mr Mbaakanyi Lenyatso, Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) - Mr Mothusi Chimbise while Mr Goitsemodimo Setume is an independent candidate.

Representing the AP during the Radio Botswana parliamentary debates on Thursday,  Mr Moalosi said there was need to re-open the old Tatitown Primary School in Bluetown for use by people living with disabilities. He said there were also other areas that needed attention such as betuminising the gravel road that connects Phase 5 to Panda plant.  

He said Phase 6 in Monarch also needed to be connected to the sewarage system and that there was need to construct storm water drainage system in all areas in Monarch location.

Mr Moalosi further stated that if voted into power, he would make sure that a shopping mall is constructed at Gerald Estate.

For his part, Mr Moswaane explained that his party (BDP) had developed Batswana since independence through its sound policies and programmes, which created employment opportunities.

Mr Moswaane said that his party if voted would continue fighting unemployment, especially among the youth.

He said  BDP had managed to uplift the country from a low income economy to a middle income one. Mr Moswaane said that the BDP-led government  managed to keep public employees on the job when the whole world was hit by the 2008 economic meltdown. This, he said was commendable.

He said BDP was committed to improve the health standard of the people of Francistown, saying NDP 11 had a good package for the city because a district hospital would be built in Gerald Estate to alleviate Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.

He said the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) would operate under a new name of BMC Limited and that the government had taken a decision to re-open the Francistown plant.

Regarding the closure of BCL Mine, Mr Moswaane said that it was closed due to low copper and nickel prices.

However, he said government was considering re-opening the mine because of the improving  copper and nickel prices.

Meanwhile, Mr Chimbise of the BPF  said if elected, he would turn Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) into a fully-fledged university.

He said Francistown as the second city deserved to have a high learning institution.

Mr Chimbise also said if voted into power, BPF would re-open the BMC plant in Francistown, saying  there was no reason for the plant to have been closed because  the area had enough cattle to supply the abattoir.

Concerning  Phase 6 road in Monarch to Panda Plant, Mr Chimbise said he would advocate for the road to be  bitumenised while another road would  be constructed from Maipaafela location connecting Gerald Estate to ease traffic congestion.

The independent candidate, Mr Setume promised to improve the internship programme, saying the programme had long been overtaken by events.

He said if voted into power, internship officers would get better allowances and that the two-year period of their work would be extended until the officer gets permanent employment.

Mr Setume further stated that all the mines that were closed in and around Francistown would  be opened to create employment for the locals, hence uplifting the economy of Francistown.

He said if voted, he would make sure that a Central Business District and a taxi Bus Rank are constructed in Gerald Estate, creating temporary employment for the locals.

He submitted that if voted into power, the state of Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital would be improved and be equipped with enough beds for patients.

Still at the debate, UDC’s Mr Lenyatso said his party would re-open BMC abattoir, BCL Mine, construct a new hospital, and improve operations at Nyangabgwe.

Mr Lenyatso intends to build the state of the arts museum at Francistown West constituency. 

Regarding shortage of land in Francistown, he said if voted into power, UDC would repossess the land from Tati Nickel Company and re-distribute it to the landless residents.

Mr Lenyatso also explained that UDC would commercialise agriculture because the sector had proved to be a backbone for the livelihoods of Batswana, thus improving the economy of Botswana.

He also vowed that UDC would create a western and eastern bypasses to ease traffic congestion in the centre of the city. Ends