01 Sep 2019

Aspiring Gabane/Mmankgodi parliamentary candidates had an opportunity to market themselves to the electorate during a live RB1 debate on August 31 evening. 

Mr Kagiso Mmusi of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) urged constituents to vote for his party, saying President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has renewed hope for Batswana. 

He said under President Masisi’s administration, government had become more transparent and consults with the populace. 

The BDP candidate said the President had embarked on economic growth and employment creation, and that his efforts to lure foreign investors were already bearing fruit. 

He said the BDP manifesto has been aligned to Vision 2036, adding that its goals resulted from countrywide consultations and therefore addressed the needs of Batswana. 

Among the things the ruling party wants to do was the manufacturing of electric cars, and Mr Mmusi said the country should take advantage of its resources. 

About his constituency, he said while he had never served as an MP, he had already done a lot  and had a good track record for the electorates to vote him. 

He said in 2008 he was elected deputy treasurer of the BDP and used his term to assist schools in the area. He added that he financially assisted teams such as Digodi, Santos and Black Forest.   

Mr Mmusi said the country’s abundant resources such as gas remained untapped, adding that it could result in high levels of economic growth and employment creation. 

For his part, Maj. Gen. Pius Mokgware of the Alliance for Progressives (AP), who served in the 11^th Parliament, said he left a legacy and urged to be given another opportunity to continue with development projects. 

He said the AP would build a corrupt free society and should be given power as they promised jobs for all Batswana. 

The AP also promises to give every Motswana a residential plot and Maj. Gen. Mokgware said the lack of land has denied Batswana to live dignified lives. 

He said the first motion he would present before Parliament would call for the transformation of the Youth Development Fund (YDF) to make it accessible for more youths and to increase its ceiling, saying the amount was insufficient to enable youth to start companies of their dreams. 

Maj. Gen. Mokgware also said he would table a motion to increase the Constituency Development Fund to P50 million. 

He also said he would work on poverty eradication schemes, saying people had been waiting for their packages since 2012. 

He further said Mmankgodi should have a service centre as people had been forced to travel to either Ramotswa or Thamaga for services, adding that the village should also be provided with a post office. 

Maj. Gen. Mokgware said he would establish a flea market in Tsolamosese to house informal businesses, adding that it would be done through the Constituency Development Fund.

Real Alternative Party’s (RAP) Mr Nkwasilili Nkosana said his party’s socialist roots were geared towards improving the welfare of citizens.

He said it was high time for the oppressed and the working class to demand their rights and share in the economy, adding that Batswana did not have a good life in a rich country.

He said the country has a poor public transport system and that only the rich and people with medical aid could access private health facilities while and the were forced to use government hospitals and clinics which offered substandard services.

He said they believed in full employment and that given the rich resources the country had, it could be recruiting labour from other countries.

RAP offers P6 500 minimum living wage and P3 250 universal basic income which is also equivalent to student’s allowances.

Mr Nkosana said under the RAP government, parents would receive P800 per month for child care.

Mr Moreetsi Gomang of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) urged residents to send him to Parliament to advocate for residents to be allocated land.

He said most of his constituents were without land and were compelled to live with their parents. He promised Gabane/Mmankgodi residents that his party would create 100 000 jobs during the first 12 months of rule, saying constituents would benefit.

He said the UDC promised a P3 000 minimum wage. 

Mr Gomang served as an administration officer in the MP’s office and said the AP candidate, interrupted his party’s development agenda.

He said as an administration officer, his office was recognised as the best performing in the country, while Maj. Gen. Mokgware said he won the award as the best performing MP.

Mr Gomang further said hills in the village should be used to bring tourist in the area, adding that he differed with other candidates who called for the harvesting of river sand for brick moulding purposes, saying it was not environmentally sustainable.

He said there was an industrial area in Gabane that had not been developed as it had not been provided with amenities such as water and electricity. ENDS