11 Aug 2019

To scores of residents of Francistown South, particularly the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s rank and file, Friday 9, 2019 will go down in history as exceptional.

What looked like a run of the mill Friday evening, suddenly sprang to life the moment Vice President and Boteti West MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane alighted from a Honda Fit taxi, otherwise referred to as ‘Mmaofit’ he boarded to meet and greet residents of Somerset East, Block 1, Block 2, Block 4, during a session that went on until dusk.

For the last 10 years, Francistown South has been in the hands of the opposition and the Friday’s courtesy call to the constituency by Mr Tsogwane was an attempt to canvass support for the BDP with the intention to wrestle it away from Wynter Mmolotsi of Alliance for Progressives (AP), during general elections due this year.

Somerset East ward was the first stop-over for the Vice President and BDP chairperson, who was accompanied by among others, the party’s parliamentary hopeful for Francistown South, Mr Modiri Lucas and area council candidate, Mr Thato Tselawa. Also present were the city mayor, Ms Sylvia Muzila and the district commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matsheka.

Although awe-struck to see a high-profile official of the stature of the Vice President who pounced on them without prior warning, many were happy to meet and greet Mr Tsogwane.

They also cashed in on the rare and golden opportunity availed to them to share their plights with the Vice President, who was more than happy to give them audience.

Ms Sophie Isaac, who had stayed in Somerset East for well-over 30 years, relayed to Mr Tsogwane that as old as she was, she was grappling with a difficult task of raising an orphan and living in a small house with her family.

She was however thankful that the Francistown district commissioners’ office had come to her rescue when some disingenuous people wanted to take possession of her yard.

Ms Joyce Senokwane, also an elder in Somerset East, was clearly not amused by soaring levels of crime as well as uncompleted storm water drainage project in the area and called for intervention.

For his part, Mr Tsogwane told the residents that his mission was to check on their welfare.

To him, it was mind-boggling to see people go on without being assisted ‘because there were a lot of tailor-made projects to meet the needs of the people’. All that needed to be done was for the civil service to rise up to the occasion and serve the populace with diligence.

“Social and Community Development officers should visit your homes and see how best they can assist you,” he said.
Also, Mr Tsogwane assured residents that President Masisi-led government would ably ensure calm and peace prevailed.

In Block 4, Mr Tsogwane told residents that thanks to President Masisi’s spirited effort to lure investors to do business in Botswana, a cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to the tune of P3.2 billion was realised since April 2018.

Such efforts, which include numerous bills among them; the Botswana Meat Commission bill that had been given a green light by Parliament, according to Mr Tsogwane, were done first and foremost with the welfare of Motswana in mind.

He vouched that if given another mandate, BDP would continue to look for better ways to improve the livelihoods of Batswana and continue with programmes such as Ipelegeng.

For his part, Mr Lucas promised residents that once voted into power, he would bring in more government officials including those in the top brass with a view to turn around the fortunes of the constituents.

One of the residents of Block 2, Ms Angelina Makwacha told BOPA in an interview that she remained hopeful that the visit by the Vice President would help resolve outstanding problems engulfing Francistown South.

During this year’s election, the race will pit Mr Mmolotsi against Mr Lucas and Mr Tiroeone Ntsima of UDC. ENDS