19 Jul 2022

A coalition of opposition parties is a good move but progress is hindered by untruthfulness, says Alliance for Progressives (AP) president Mr Ndaba Gaolathe.

 Officially opening the party’s congress in Francistown on Sunday, he said the coalition idea could only succeed if elders or veterans were involved to give guidance. 

Nonetheless, Mr Gaolathe said AP had great potential to move forward alone with or without the coalition.

 He challenged Batswana to associate with reliable organisations led by truthful people who had peoples’ interests at heart.

Mr Gaolathe said the party slogan, ‘A New Botswana’ was deliberately chosen to direct the organisation’s political agenda which had been inspired by the dream to see a country filled with love, peace and happiness.

A progressive Botswana could only be achieved if members rallied behind the party and moved together in unity.   

“The AP is the only option that can move Batswana forward to bring forth a ‘New Botswana’,” he said.

As part of plans to move Botswana forward, Mr Gaolathe said there was need to harness the abundant mineral and natural resources that the country was endowed with.

Botswana, he said,  had more than 212 billion metric tonnes of coal that could be exploited for development and employment creation.

“Liquid coal can be used to make fuel and other products and to produce more electricity at a lesser price which in turn would make electricity cheaper for Batswana,” he said.

Regarding fuel production from coal, he noted that the country had the potential to develop and connect the country’s gas or fuel pipelines to some southern and central African countries. 

He said such a move would be a catalyst for infrastructural development and establishment of industries.

He said under the ‘New Botswana’, youth would be supported financially to develop their potential in any field.

On the issue of land, Mr Gaolathe  said there were more affordable ways to expedite land allocation. The AP leader went on to commend Francistown South residents for having faith in the party as shown by their vote for Mr Wynter Mmolotsi as MP.

He said Mr Mmolotsi,  who is also the party’s vice president, had been the area MP since 2009. 

Mr Gaolathe  also expressed gratitude to the party leadership for keeping the organisation together. Ends