10 Sep 2024

Prospective parliamentary candidates for the newly established Maun North constituency have vowed to address issues grappling the area if given chance. 

Three prospective candidates vying for the constituency include former Maun West MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), former Khwai/Mababe Councillor, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Prophet Thato Elias of the Botswana Democratic Party. 

The trio stated their intentions during a Radio Botswana debate held at the Maun Senior Secondary School on Monday evening. 

The human-wildlife conflict issue dominated the debate with all agreeing that the issue was complex but could be managed to ensure peaceful co-existence between humans and wildlife. 

Prophet Elias said government was making interventions to reduce the impact on the communities. 

He argued that the constituency needed a fresh leader with fresh mind and ideas, stating that  once voted into office, he would advocate for the electrification of the buffalo fence using solar power to reduce human-wildlife conflict. 

He appreciated that currently the fence was not intact because of the elephants, which continued to damage it and encroach on  human settlements. 

“I have toured the fence and observed that it needs maintenance to ensure it serves its purpose so that farmers could benefit from agricultural activities,” he added. 

The fence serves to control and keep wildlife in their habitats away from cattle farms mainly to prevent livestock disease transmission. 

Prophet Elias also assured voters that he would advocate for gazetting of the settlements in the Okavango Delta to ensure residents enjoy economic benefits and services. 

He also promised to improve the Shorobe-Khwai road, which he said was used by tourists who visit the area to appreciate the beauty of the Okavango Delta. 

UDC’s Mr Ntsogotlho, concurred that fence electrification could be ideal to mitigate the effects of the human-wildlife conflict  indicating that residents lived in fear of wildlife in their farms and ploughing fields. 

He pointed out that drilling boreholes in the wildlife habitats could work as during the dry season, animals’ invaded homesteads in search of water and good vegetation. 

He also promised that compensation would restore dignity among those whose property would have been damaged by wildlife. 

On the issue of land allocation, he said once voted into power, he would advocate for the speedy land allocation, saying people had been waiting for years without land. 

Mr Ntsogotlho said Boro settlement had been incorporated into the Maun planning area but it was a pity, as residents did not have ownership of their land having long waited to be issued  certificates. 

Mr Ntsogotlho also pointed out that Mababe residents had long lodged a request for their land to be converted from state to tribal land. 

He remarked that his party also promised decent living, access to quality health and education once it took over government. 

Mr Saleshando, who is also BCP leader, said constituents had accepted to harmoniously co-exist with animals but emphasised that his party would pay compensation equivalent to what would have been damaged by the animals. 

He appealed to Batswana to vote for the BCP if they wanted to see transformation on issues such as infrastructure, education and health system, among others, promising that he would first focus on energising the economy, which he said was gradually declining. 

“The country is facing economic recession as recently we were informed in Parliament that the economy’s growth rate stood at zero,” he said. 

He said roads, health facilities and schools classrooms were currently in a bad state because the government was failing Batswana, adding that in the North West, many schools were operating with temporary teachers, of which some stayed for months without payment. 

Mr Saleshando said health facilities were experiencing shortage of drugs and personnel such as doctors noting that the World Health Organisation (WHO) outlined that a 10 000 population should at least be served by 23 doctors but in the North West, there were only three doctors. 

He said when the BCP takes over government, they would abolish land boards because they fuel corruption in land allocation, adding that they would also review the Constitution to ensure it recognised that Batswana were a united nation. ENDS