28 Aug 2024

The Umbrella for Democratic Change(UDC) has promised residents of Boteti mining royalties if voted into power in the upcoming elections.

Leader of UDC Advocate  Duma  Boko said  this during the launch of Boteti West’s prospective  parliamentary candidate, Mr Sam Digwa in Rakops  on Sunday.

Advocate  Boko said Boteti district was endowed with diamonds yet the people  of that area were poor. Revenues generated from diamonds, Mr Boko, said should benefit communities from areas where they were mined, adding that some people were relocated from their cattle posts to areas like Metsiaela to pave way for mining, but were impoverished.

If elected in power, Mr Boko said that UDC would increase old age pension to P1 800 and reduce the age from 65 to 60 years.

He condemned Botswana Democratic Party led government saying  that they had failed the education sector. Advocate Boko said academic   schools academic performance, there was shortage of stationery as well as furnisher.

He pleaded with the people of Boteti to vote Mr Digwa for the parliamentary seat.

Another speaker, Gaborone Bonnington South’s prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Ndaba Gaolatlhe reiterated the fact that Botswana was rich in natural resources but its people remained poor.

Mr Gaolatlhe said countries such as the Unites States of America were not rich in natural resources but had a good economic performance due to good governance. Ghanzi South member of parliament, Mr Motsamai Motsamai pleaded with the people of Boteti to benchmark from his constituency by taking Mr Digwa to Parliament.

Mr Motsamai urged the people of Boteti to vote for a party that could take them out of poverty. UDC Chairperson Mr Motlatsi Molapisi informed the people of Boteti that they needed to change government.

Mr Molapisi further said the BDP led government only implemented economic programmes for campaigning purposes during election year..

For his part Mr Digwa described Mr Boko as a brilliant leader who could take Botswana to another level.He said that as prospective parliamentary candidate he had a challenge to develop Boteti.

Meanwhile, in Ghanzi UDC also launched its Ghanzi North parliamentary candidate,  Mr Noah Salakae and and 19 council candidates on Saturday

The party leader Advocate Boko appealed to Ghanzi constituents to vote for UDC candidates in the upcoming general elections.

He said Mr Salakae was conversant with the economic and social issues besieging the constituency and would bring the much needed developments in the constituency if elected.

Advocate Boko said Ghanzi district was renowned for its significant contribution to the country’s beef industry but things had taken a shift as the district was on a drive to diversify their sources of economic growth by assimilating multiple sectors such as horticulture and mining.

He therefore said economic diversification drive would promote the region from becoming more or less equally dependent on a single sector. He attested that the multiple economic sectors would accelerate economic transformation of the district and the country at large as there would be more job opportunities, skills transfer and ultimately poverty eradication.

Advocate Boko said the UDC, if voted to power,  would also introduce nation school feeding programme whereby children would be provided with two meals per day even when the schools were closed. He explained that they would ensure continuity of the programme as a way of curbing delinquency acts amongst school going children.

Advocate Boko urged voters to rally behind UDC as they were committed to protect human rights and fundamental freedom on individuals while under their authority. For his part, Member of

Parliament for Ghanzi South Constituency, Mr Motsamai Motsamai implored youth to participate in  political party’s politics to add  vibrancy.

Mr Motsamai said BDP has been in power for over 50 years but they have failed to deliver programmes to omprove the lives of Batswana.    

He said the  UDC would implement youth progammes to empower youths for better livelihoods. Furthermore, Mr Motsamai said voting UDC  into power would mean shunning corruption which was on the rise within the BDP-led government.

He said UDC would advocate for an inclusive economy, that would promote local empowerment and ultimately bridge the gaps between the rich and the poor.

For his part, Mr Salakae, said Ghanzi constituents made a mistake during the 2019 elections by electing BDP candidate and therefore called the electorate to take him to Parliament.

He said if elected, he would ensure the completion of the envisioned projects such as the stadium, relocation of the airport, land compensation for Kgaphamadi residents, and land reform strategy for Ghanzi ranches. ENDS