15 Sep 2024

The hopes of Molepolole North residents for developments and a better life are on the shoulders of  the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) prospective parliamentary and council candidates, the party leader has said. 

Speaking at the launch of prospective parliamentary candidate, Mr Arafat Khan and  prospective council candidates in Molepolole on Saturday, Advocate Duma Boko said Mr Khan carried the aspirations of residents who did not have access to water and health facilities.

He said the UDC would uplift the socio-economic well-being of Batswana by setting up an old age pension scheme of P1 800 and a living wage of P4 000. 

He said the UDC would, once in power, increase tertiary allowance to P2 500, saying the current amount was insufficient to cater for students which forced them to find alternative means to raise funds such as prostitution.

Adv. Boko also said the UDC promised to create jobs, saying the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had failed to create employment opportunities. 

He said government projects would be used to create sustainable jobs as only citizens would be employed.

He said by casting a vote for the UDC, Batswana would be voting for a better life for their children who did not have the necessary amenities in schools,.

He said under a UDC government, lactating mothers would be given P300 every month to help take care of their infants.

The UDC leader said some youths had lost hope, especially those in the creative sector, as they were not fully supported and said his party would identify and develop talent at an early age. 

“No one should be living in the jaws of poverty,” he said.

He said government had claimed that there was plenty of water in Molepolole, but taps remained dry.

The UDC president said government coffers had also been depleted in a short period.

He appealed to party members to report anything unusual or suspicious during the general elections billed for October 30, . 

Adv. Boko said the party had sought the electronic voter’s roll from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to no avail.

Talking about Mr Khan,who is the current councillor for Borakalalo ward,  Adv. Boko said he was the ideal candidate as he was popular in the village and had been a politician all his life. 

He added that he was a capable man who would work for the nation without seeking personal enrichment.

For his part, Mr Khan promised to carry the aspirations of his voters, and said he would do all he could to bring developments to Molepolole. Ends