18 Sep 2016

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has people’s interests at heart, says President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.
When welcoming Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone, to the BDP in Shakawe on September 17, President Khama said BDP had always been fair during the past 50 years when it was in power.
He said people like Mr Arone were testimony to the fact that BDP was attractive and the most balanced political collective ever to have been conceived.
“I must believe that BDP has always been in his (Mr Arone) heart and we appreciate him for his decision to join us,” he said.
President Khama said in 1966, Shakawe did not have electricity and schools, among other developments, but because the party took note of the people’s needs, such developments were now available.
He said Botswana still remained a country where peace, developments and unity prevailed, all because of the BDP’s able leadership.
He said members of the opposition parties were able to access government programmes without being asked which party they belonged to.
“As long as you are a Motswana you get help,” he said, adding that in 1998, when he joined BDP, he was saddened by lack of peace prevalent in other countries, which was not the case with Botswana.
 He said he had always watched as leaders elsewhere in the world would not step down from power and spent state money as they wished, while Botswana remained a peaceful and responsible country.
On other issues, President Khama refuted reports by the Botswana Congress Party that the ferry boat being used in Mohembo belonged to him.
He said Okavango had always enjoyed government support even though some voters in the area often preferred the opposition.
He assured the residents that in the next weeks, the contractor responsible for construction of the Mohembo Bridge would be given the tender to start the project.
President Khama said he was aware about the high youth unemployment rate in the country and that the ruling party was doing everything it could to help the situation.
For his part, Mr Arone praised President Khama saying even though at some point they did not agree politically, he had never hated him.
He said government programmes had always been available to all Batswana irrespective of their party affiliation.
“You are indeed a goodman,” he said, refuting allegations that he had been bought. ENDS