25 Jul 2022

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president Advocate Duma Boko has called on Gerald Estate residents to vote for UDC candidate, Mr Gift Tebo in the Moselewapula ward bye-election slated for July 30.

Moselewapula ward council seat became vacant following the death of Mr Reuben Ketlhoilwe who was the area councillor through the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) ticket.

Candidates contesting for the seat include Mr Ngwisiwa Ntogwa of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), UDC’s Mr Tebo while the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) supported by Alliance for Progressives is represented by Mr Oagile Wairi.

Advocate Boko said Mr Tebo was young and had potential to bring change in the area as councillor. 

He said having been raised in the area, Mr Tebo understood the challenges experienced in the area and the ways best to address them. He said as a youth, he also represented young people and knew their needs and aspirations.

The UDC president went on to state that the lives of Batswana had not improved under the ruling BDP.

He explained that the country had the potential to set up industries that could create employment. 

He added that currently, the nation was experiencing shortage of jobs, especially for the youth of which some were tertisry graduates.

Mr Boko said  that roughly 500 000 people in Botswana who were fit for work were unemployed and government was not doing much to create jobs.

He mentioned that if the UDC was voted into power, it could create 100 000 jobs in 12 months, which could be achieved through setting up of a railway line network that could link Francistown to Maun, Kasane and other parts of the country. 

He said the railway line project could create 50 jobs and the railway line network could create enough jobs for Batswana to boost the socio-economic stand of the country.

On other issues, Mr Boko indicated that since the fourth industrial revolution was on course, Information Communication Technology (ICT) should be made core in the education sector such that learners were provided with tablets for their educational work and study. 

He added that children should not have to walk to school carrying heavy loads of school books every day. 

The UDC leader further stated that currently hospitals and clinics were experiencing shortage of doctors and medication which put  peoples’ lives at risk.

Further, Advocate Boko, went on to state that the UDC’s objective when voted into power was to increase the pension to P1 500 and student allowance to P2 500. 

He also indicated that the minimum wage for employees on the A3 scale would be increased to P3 000.

Mr Ignitious Moswaane who is the legislator for Francistown West shared the same views as the UDC party president noting that the scarcity of jobs especially for the youth was a great challenge in society. 

He explained that the UDC made of BPP, Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) was open for other parties to join the movement and bring change to the country.

The BPP president and UDC chairperson Mr Motlatsi Molapisi called on residents not to vote for the BDP in the Moselewapula coming bye-elections and the next general elections. 

He said the ruling party did not have people’s interests at heart.

The BPF acting president Ms Caroline Lesang said it was time for change to take place and called on residents to vote for the opposition party. 

She said Mr Tebo was a young Motswana who had great potential to improve residents’ lives. Ends