04 Jul 2024

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president, Mr Dumelang Saleshando, presented his party’s MP candidate and council candidates for the Mogoditshane West constituency to the electorate in Mogoditshane recently.

Mr Saleshando emphasised the capable and efficient nature of women, showcasing his party’s commitment to female leadership as he declared Ms Julia Chepete, a microbiologist by profession, as the party’s parliamentary candidate for Mogoditshane West.

Mr Saleshando underscored Ms Chepete’s choice to align with the BCP as a testament to the party’s professionalism and adherence to established procedures.

He also signified his confidence in Ms Chepete’s drive and determination to fulfill the position. In his address to the electorate, Mr Saleshando, drove home the party’s readiness to tackle pressing issues within the Mogoditshane constituency, including the rampant crime rate.

The BCP leader blamed the high levels of crime on the district’s escalating unemployment and the influx of foreigners operating dubious businesses, resulting in a breeding ground for illegal activities and unsafe conditions.

Making an impassioned plea, the BCP leader laid bare the statistics of unemployment in Botswana, with a 24 per cent rate in 2024, an increase from 20 per cent in 2019.

Regarding  Mogoditshane land issue, Mr Saleshando the blamed  Land Board for corruption and mishandling of residential plots allocation, leaving people languishing on waiting lists for over three decades.

The BCP leader promised to radically transform the land administration if elected, vowing to dismantle Land Boards and entrust land management to professionally trained administrators rather than political appointees.

He envisioned a future where everyone was entitled to residential plots, stating, ‘we’re going to make sure that everyone is allocated serviced plots because it is possible.’

Mr Saleshando pleaded with the rsident to vote BCP saying  his  party has been tried and found true. “Give us the mandate to govern, and we will turn Botswana’s fortunes around, he said.”

Former MP for Mogoditshane, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba, a staunch advocate for the BCP, lent his voice to the campaign, urging the voters to rally behind the party for the sake of Mogoditshane’s future.

“The BCP is the only party with the will to fulfill its promises,” he asserted. “Vote for us, and you’ll see change happen in Mogoditshane.” He promised to restore dignity to the constituency if the party is voted into power and that they would make it a place that they would be proud to call home.

MP for Ngami, Mr Kainangura Hikuama, took to the stage expounding on the 10-point plan that set the BCP apart in the race for leadership.

“We have a blueprint for a sustainable future, including plans for green technology,” he said.

For her part, Ms Chepete’s promised to champion the needs of her constituency, pointing to the pressing issues of neglected internal roads, rising crime, and illegal immigration that has long gone unaddressed in Mogoditshane.

Meanwhile another BCP prospective parliamentary candidate Party Jwaneng/Mabutsane Constituency was also recently launched.

Launching the candidate and  12 aspiring councillors, vice president, Mr Taolo Lucas implored BCP members and constituents to vote for Mr Kgakololo Ramoswaane in the October general elections.

Mr Lucas said BCP was the only party that had people’s interests at heart and therefore it was important for members and constituents to maintain focus and deliver the vote for the opposition.

“We need to test the strength of a different party. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has long been tried and tested and has so far run out of ideas as evidenced by challenges of high unemployment rate,” he said.

He added that BCP continued to demonstrate its commitment through prioritising to meet the needs of the people through its unveiled 10-point manifesto, which they intended to utilise through the principle of good governance when they ascended to power.

Through their manifesto, he said the BCP was committed to creating 300 000 job opportunities in five years after being elected to power.

He said the BCP was concerned about widespread corruption, unemployment and underemployment in the country.

Again, he said the BCP would endeavour to distribute the country’s wealth well and improve the living standards of the poor and further address issues underemployment through their commitment to build an economy that would be able to pay a P4 000 living wage.

He further said once in power, they intended to pay P600 as unemployment allowance and also speed up land allocation given that access to land was still a challenge to many in Botswana.

“Prioritising land allocation has been our core mandate. BDP has no clear plan to ensure Batswana have land,” he said.

On one hand, he said the Jwaneng/Mabutsane constituency had for a long time been run under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which was the main reason for the developments to be lagging behind.

He noted that the constituency needed committed men and women who could drive the essential developments desired in the area.

As such, he challenged Batswana to desist from electing parties or people that were not interested in uplifting their lives.

He said Mr Ramoswaane and his  councillors were ideal candidates for the constituency, particularly that they were all conversant with party rules and procedures.

“They fully understand that the BCP is the party run based on the principle of good governance with outmost respect for human rights,” he added.

For his part, Mr Ramoswaane pleaded with the electorates to vote for him so that he could assist to bring developments in the constituency.

He said part of the priorities as their representative in Parliament would be tarring of Maokane-Mokhomba-Samane-Thankane gravel road as well as creating job opportunities, especially for the youth. ENDS