25 Sep 2024

Three Kgatleng East prospective candidates on Tuesday participated in a live Radio Botswana debate to convince constituents on why they should be sent to the 13th Parliament.

The trio,  Mr Steven Makhura of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Mr Mabuse Pule of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

The common denominator among all candidates was inaccessible roads in the constituency, lack of employment for young people and under development of the area.

In his submissions, Mr Pule said his track record spoke for him. He said during the past five years as an MP, the constituency had seen a lot of developments such as electrification of Mabalane, Sikwane, Mmathubudukwane, Ramonaka and Malolwane villages  known as  River villages.

“Under my leadership, the River villages are now connected to the national grid and Eskom electricity blackout is a thing of the past,” he said.

Mr Pule said he was the most suitable candidate because the constituency had also benefitted from the Transitional National Development Projects (TNDP), citing the newly launched Modipane-Mabalane road that has been on the cards for the last 30 years.

He mentioned the new Oodi Primary school and Oodi Machaneng fibre reticulation as some of the major milestones that should endorse his candidacy for the Kgatleng East Constituency.

He said programmes such as Chema chema, Thuo Letlotlo and Temo Letlotlo were meant to create employment opportunities, adding that he was able to support the fish festival initiative for residents of river villages to tap opportunities of living in the vicinity of Madikwe River. Ms Kgafela-Mokoka on the other hand said she should be given chance to represent Kgatleng East, backed by UDC manifesto that outlined the desire not just to create jobs, but to create high-paying job opportunities.

She said given the chance, UDC government would create 450 000 to 500 000 jobs within five years.

Ms Kgafela-Mokoka said the country needed a diversified economy that was resilient in the face of increasingly unpredictable global economic conditions.

In that regard, she said her party advocated for industrial development as key driver for creation of job opportunities.

Ms Kgafela-Mokoka said commercialised agriculture was also an untapped area that UDC would focus on to create sustainable employment prospects.

 “We should be able to access markets within the region for our agricultural produce,” she said.

If voted as MP for Kgatleng East, she would advocate for routine maintenance of public facilities such as clinics and schools which she said were not in a good state.

Ms Kgafela-Mokoka said creative industry was not promoted, but was capable of creating many jobs through the spill-offs from the industry.

“Under our leadership, we will support the  industry that we call a creative economy. Recording our Kgatleng choirs, among others,” she said.

Ms Kgafela- Mokoka said Oodi College of Applied Arts was under utilised, whereas many young people roam the streets, who could be sharpening their skills as artisans.

She also promised electorates that voting for UDC would afford them better healthcare services because for every 10 000 people, there would be two doctors and midwives to serve them.

“We want national health medical scheme for all citizens. We will also make sure that children have P300 allowance to maintain them,” she said.

For his part, Mr Makhura also said he was equally suitable to be an MP for Kgatleng East.

He said the BCP manifesto contained a 10-point-agenda that outlined how Batswana would bask under the economy that would work for all.

He said given the chance, BCP would overhaul all dysfunctional policies that were hindering the economy to thrive.

Mr Makhura also said primary key in BCP manifesto was creation of jobs and that Batswana would reclaim the exported jobs in high numbers. “Our beef and mineral sector will create jobs through beneficiation and these will hire Batswana in permanent and more sustainable jobs,” he said.

He said BCP also believed in empowering Batswana to lead dignified lives. Mr Makhura also said Batswana would be protected from losing jobs through policies that were citizens’ centric.

Under the healthcare sector, he said their manifesto was clear that every two years citizens would be assessed for non-communicable diseases because they were the main cause of dire health problems.

Regarding youth empowerment, Mr Makhura said BCP government would concentrate on vocational institutions to produce more artisans that could compete for jobs even outside the country. ENDS