19 Aug 2024

As the election approaches, candidates for the Shashe West Constituency are making their cases clear, each promising focused improvements in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for the electorate.

The candidates include incumbent Member of Parliament and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) representative Mr Fidelis Molao, Botswana Congress Party’s Mr Oganne Mazwigwila, Botswana Patriotic Front’s Mr Jeremiah Frenzel, and Umbrella for Democratic Change’s (UDC) Mr Alfred Mashungwa.

Incumbent MP Mr Molao has highlighted his administration’s achievements, claiming improvements including electricity installation, water reticulation, and road development in the constituency. However, his opponents have disputed these assertions, arguing that the state of education, healthcare, and infrastructure remains inadequate.

During a recent debate on Radio Botswana on Friday, Mr Molao defended the BDP’s record, stating that all eight villages in Shashe West were now connected to electricity. He also reported that a water reticulation project is currently 77 per cent complete and was expected to be finalised by November, which he asserted would alleviate water shortages in areas like Jamataka, Makobo, and Natale.

Furthermore, he said that Chamabona Junior School would soon be converted into a boarding institution, providing a local option for students that previously had to travel far for education.

In response, Mr Mazwigwila from the BCP expressed grave concerns about the educational outcomes in secondary schools within the constituency. He pointed out that many students fail to advance their studies due to the distance from home, making it challenging for parents to supervise their children.

His vision is of an inclusive economy that prioritizes quality education, aiming to transform lives and bring back jobs that have been exported abroad. He emphasized a strategy to export finished goods rather than raw materials to combat unemployment in Shashe West and revive industries in Francistown.

Mr Frenzel of the BPF underscored the desperate need for improvements in the healthcare sector, noting that only Borolong and Mathangwane have clinics, while the remaining villages are serviced by health posts, leading to overcrowding and strain on available staff.

He pledged that if elected, he would advocate for the upgrade of health facilities and the establishment of a 24-hour clinic in Borolong. He also proposed building a dry port at Shashemooke by the new weight bridge to stimulate local business opportunities.

Mr Mashungwa of UDC claimed that true progress in Shashe West would come if voters chose his party. He proposed introducing a living wage instead of a minimum wage to benefit the working class.

He criticized the BDP for failing to meet the needs of Batswana and urged citizens to consider UDC as a viable alternative.

Highlighting the presence of two nearby dams, Shashe and Ntimbale, he argued that the current leadership should have ensured water security for the constituency, and pledged to develop a one-stop agricultural center to support farmers in northern Botswana. ENDS