06 Oct 2024

A strong government can only be guaranteed if Batswana give the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) another shot during this year’s polls, which are slated for October 30.

BDP Secretary General, Mr Kavis Kario said this during the launch of the party’s parliamentary and council candidates in Tonota on Saturday.

He said BDP’s stellar performance, which he attributed  to its shrewd leadership, could not be matched by any of the opposition parties vying for state power this year.

He said the BDP had done well and delivered on most of its 2019 election promises, which included allocating over 100 000 plots, improving food security through introduction of restrictions on some horticultural products, and historic negotiations for a better deal with De Beers.

Mr Kario said unlike the opposition, which had failed on all fronts, including the attempts to forge synergies to oust BDP, the ruling party had acquitted itself well because it had a vision to free Batswana from the hardships of life.

“What happened to the so-called people’s project? Where is the long-awaited Motswaledi report?” he asked, telling his audience that the opposition was so out of tune that even its promises to the people were nothing but pie in the sky.

To this end, he made a clarion call for individual Democrats and Batswana to vote for his party if they wanted to see continued growth and socio-economic development.

“You can continue to trust the BDP by casting votes for both its parliamentary and council candidates,” he said, stating that Mr Andy Boatile and the 10 council candidates had all the credentials needed to advocate for better livelihoods for the people of Tonota.

Mr Kario noted that Mr Boatile, a one-time chairperson of the BDP youth league, was well equipped for the task ahead, having risen through the party’s ranks, including as a councillor for Tonota.

His words were echoed by former MP for Chobe and member of the BDP central committee, Mr Machana Shamukuni who expressed confidence in Mr Boatile and team of council candidates.

He said the team was more than ready to work tirelessly to further the developments in the Tonota constituency.

Former Area MP and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, known for his theatrics in political circles, cajoled democrats into knuckling down until the last day to win the constituency.

“Every vote counts, so let us go all out and conduct house-to-house campaigns, and this includes canvassing for votes from sulking BDP members and those in the opposition,” he said.

Regional Chairperson for Francistown region, Mr Sambandawe Mpenzeni, assured democrats that the campaign teams in the area had covered a lot of ground even amid a few protests following Bulela-ditswe.

Mr Boatile promised democrats that he and his team would always toe the party line and uphold the BDP ethos in their daily interactions with electorates.

“We will simply be taking off where those who came before us left off and expedite developments in the constituency and Botswana at large,” he said. ENDS