28 Jul 2019

The Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has pleaded with electorate to vote Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) prospective parliamentary candidate Mr Thapelo Letsholo, and the nine council candidates in the coming general election.

Mr Tsogwane also the party chairperson, was launching Mr Letsholo in Kanye on July 27. 

He said they had a good fortune of being represented by Mr Letsholo in Parliament. 

He described Mr Letsholo as a savvy captain of the industry whose skills set and wealth of experience would benefit the constituency and the nation at large, with regards to knowledge based economy and the fourth industrial revolution.

Mr Tsogwane, however, urged  Batswana to avoid being deceived by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) claims that they would increase old age pensions, student allowances and living wage among others, if given the mandate. 

He said ‘talk is cheap’ adding they only plucked figures from the air because they had no experience in governance whereas the BDP had a track record that spoke for itself.

Among others, Mr Tsogwane shared that government was racing against time to carve a Citizen Economic Empowerment Law with a view to improve the lives of Batswana. 

He said the law would place the economy of the nation in the hands of Batswana. 

He said Batswana especially in the lucrative tourism sector, had always been mere spectators.

The law, he said, would create jobs and change livelihoods for the better.

He also informed multitudes who attended the launch that government was desirous of seeing community based natural resources being managed by the host communities in order for Batswana to derive maximum benefit from the same.

On other issues, Mr Tsogwane reassured residents that water shortage especially in the Southern part of the country would soon become a thing of the past. 

He revealed that government had requested for a supplementary budget from Parliament to finance a 100km water supply pipeline from Masama with a view to fast track water supply.

He read constituents a Facebook post which suggested the BDP was using Parliament as a pawn to get money for its campaigns ahead of the upcoming general elections and encouraged all Batswana to regard the assertion as baseless.

He explained that the project, which would be rounded off within 12 months, was a pressing matter which needed immediate attention. 

Ordinarily, he said Batswana would have to wait another three years to get water. 

Meanwhile, he stressed that government was determined to root out corruption in all its manifestations without fear or favour.

Mr Tsogwane further encouraged the newly formed Botswana Patriotic Front members to return to the BDP. 

He said the BDP splinter party had no direction and their manifesto was premised on unseating President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi only, while the BDP manifesto provided practical solutions to the heart of the problems and hinged on the National Development Plan and Vision 2036.

For his part Mr Letsholo said his representation would revolve around citizen empowerment. 

He said water shortage, tarmac of Kgomokasitwa/Molapowabojang road among others were high up on his agenda. 

Mr Letsholo further applauded his predecessors among them Mr Patrick Ralotsia, Mr Kentse Rammidi and Mr Leach Tlhomelang for having worked tirelessly to develop and leave the area better than they found it and vowed to take up where they had left off.

Meanwhile Mr Ralotsia dismissed rumours that he sympathised with the opposition as a nonstarter. 

He said he joined the BDP in 1977 and his allegiance has never been diluted ever since. 

He shared that he socialised with both BDP and members of the opposition with a view to tell them the ‘good news’ about his party. 

As a result, he shared that he had converted many, among them former BDP strong critic and former Lobatse Town Council mayor Mr Radikokwana Maswabi.

Just as the gospel of Christ should be preached to all mankind, he challenged democrats to sell their party to all Batswana regardless of political affiliations.

Mr Ralotsia encouraged constituents to vote for Mr Letsholo, whom he described as a capable young man, adding he had long made peace with the fact that he lost party primary elections to him. Ends