02 Oct 2019

The three Maun West Parliamentary candidates have vowed to review the constitution should their parties  be voted in power on the October 23 general elections.

The candidates made the promise during the Radio Botswana parliamentary debates in Maun recently. They underscored the need to review the constitution  saying it was old and needed  amendments aligned to empowering some agencies and improving the livelihoods of Batswana.

Vying for the seat are, Mr Reaboka Mbulawa of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Mr Moalosi Sebati of Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) vice president, Mr Dumelang Saleshando.

Both oppostion candidates, Mr Sebati and Mr Saleshando argued that they had long called for the review of the constitution.

Mr Sebati said the constitution needed to be amended, arguing that  oversight institutions should be independent for them to execute their mandates effectively. He said institutions should ensure transparency, accountability and work independently.

He pleaded with Maun constituents to vote AP on October  23 because it would bring in new ideas which were stated in the party’s manifesto. He said AP offered  clean governance, jobs for all and land for everyone.

Further,Mr Sebati described his party’s manifesto as an answer and hope for a new Botswana and promised to restore dignity in the lives of many Batswana.

Once voted, he said they intended to cultivate private sector growth since it was an essential component in the alleviation of poverty as well as providing more economic opportunities.

He revealed that Ngamiland communities relied on fishing and stressed the need to establish fully fledged fishing industries to create more employment opportunities. In addition, he said through Public, Private Partnership (PPP), they could managed to put up infrastructure to benefit the locals.

The BDP candidate, Mr Mbualwa said the new administration, introduced new ideas to improve the lives of Batswana. He said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s road map aimed to take Batswana to greater heights. He said it was time to review the constitution so that they empower some institutions such as Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) which he said does not had prosecution powers.

He said some cases were delayed because Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) was the only institution which had the prosecution powers.

 Mr Mbualwa said the new administration was doing all in its power to root out corruption. He pleaded with Batswana to support the President agenda by giving him another chance in the coming general elections.

He cited efforts made by the President such as the review of land policy to ensure Batswana benefit from their land and also mentioned that creation of a thriving business environment was among the top priority list for the President.

For his part, Mr Saleshando said Ngamiland was on top on the list as far as poverty was concerned adding that the region was faced with many challenges such as poor academic performance, poor infrastructure, high unemployment rate among others.

He pleaded with the constituents to vote for him in the coming general election noting that he was one of the former MPs who stood his ground when debating community issues in Parliament.

He said Ngamiland was a tourism destination but the locals were spectators as the tourism sector was in the hands of foreigners. If he was given a chance, Mr Saleshando said he would advocate for participation of Batswana in tourism.

Mr Saleshado they wanted to see Batswana owning concessions in the Okavango Delta noting that they would also request foreigners whose lease were still active to partner with the locals. He also said UDC intended to pay better living wages adding that it was possible as they had done a research. ENDs