29 Nov 2016

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has welcomed 75 new members into the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in Tonota.

Welcoming the members on Sunday, Mr Masisi who is also the BDP chairperson urged new members and democrats to submit to the BDP, work for the party and continue with the recruitment drive towards winning the 2019 general elections.

He encouraged democrats who have interest in positions to wait for those already in positions to complete their terms before campaigning. On other issues, the Moshupa-Manyana MP said BDP would continue to come up

with empowerment programmes to address the needs of Batswana.

Member of Parliament for Tonota, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said having the 75 new members in the party especially in Tonota South East Ward brought optimism to winning the ward, which currently has an opposition party councillor.

He said in the 2014 general elections the margin between the opposition councillor and the BDP council candidate was 15. He assured VP that more people would continue to come back to the BDP because they are now better positioned to differentiate issues from politics.

Tonota BDP Branch chairperson, Mr Setshege Tapela said the constituency has nine wards and BDP won eight of them in the last general elections. He implored democrats to intensify their recruitment drive in order to win all the wards in Tonota in 2019.

The Youth chairperson, Mr Thatayaone Serema encouraged the youth to join BDP in large numbers as it is the only party that has plans of empowering them. He said the BDP government has the health of Batswana at heart as evidenced by free health services.

Another speaker, Ms Ivory Keke encouraged those who defected to the opposition parties not to be ashamed of coming back to the BDP.

A representative of the new members who were welcomed, Ms Lesego Dithupa said she is happy to be back to the BDP as it is her political home. ENDS