20 Mar 2022

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party here on Saturday welcomed over 50 new members from other political parties in Tati East, Francistown East, West and South as well as Tonota. The new members included the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, who defected from the Umbrella for Democratic Change in November 2020.
BDP chairman and Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane welcomed the new members. He informed the new members that the BDP constitution stipulated that members should not have dual membership, and explained it was imperative that they understood the principle for them to remain loyal to the party.
Mr Tsogwane said the BDP had ruled the country with dedication and in the interests of the people for over 50 years. He said the party was working at bringing social justice to Batswana through government’s rural development policy, whereby Batswana enjoyed economic benefits regardless of their location.
This he said was all in efforts to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. He promised BDP government would continue to uplift the lives of Batswana.
The VP noted that the BDP government was cognizant of the fact poverty was still a challenge in rural areas, and had introduced a number of economic empowerment programmes, to address the issue.
He said through initiatives such as rural electrification and the installation of Internet across the country, his party’s government aimed to bring services closer to the people as a further way of ensuring social justice.
“The BDP remains the only party that holds the interests of the people at heart,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane also said under his party’s guidance, Botswana managed to control COVID-19 and to save the lives of many people. However, he urged Batswana to continue to adhere to health protocols even though some restrictions had been relaxed.
He also said COVID-19 had negatively affected the economy and that unemployment remained high. However, he said the party would be coming up with strategies and policies to address the challenge of unemployment.
Cabinet ministers Mr Thulagano Segokgo and Mr Buti Billy as well as BDP deputy secretary general, Mr Shaw Kgathi among others, accompanied the vice president.ENDS