03 Oct 2019

 Bobonong constituency parliamentary candidates, on Tuesday, advanced reasons why the 21 524 voters in the area should vote for them.  

The parliamentary aspirants outlined a plethora of challenges that the constituency faced with a view to resolving such to the benefit of the constituents.

The Radio Botswana debate at Matshekge Hill School saw four parliamentary candidates revealing their plans for the constituency.

Of general concerns were a call for tarred roads to link the villages of Bobirwa, human-wildlife conflict as well as cross-border livestock theft.

Botswana Democratic Party’s candidate, Mr Francisco Kgoboko, conceded that cross-border livestock rustling threatened safety and security of Babirwa.

Hence, government engaging in talks with Zimbabwean authorities with a view to addressing the matter. Mr Kgoboko said government was constructing a police station in Semolale to help deal with theft.

Furthermore, he said government had opened a border gate at Mabolwe to facilitate interactions between Zimbabweans and Batswana.

Mr Kgoboko said the BDP government was addressing the human wildlife conflict. He said a three kilometer electric fence in Mathathane would control elephants movements.

He also denied allegations that zone seven farmers were not allowed to sell their livestock to the abattoirs. He he had names of farmers who had been selling their livestock since the zone was declared green.

For his part, Botswana Movement for Democracy candidate, Mr Njobo Ofentse, detailed the plight of a farmer in an elephants infested area.

He argued that the constituents’ plight was not helped by foot and mouth disease, despite Zone Seven having been declared a green zone.

Mr Ofentse said farmers in the Zone Seven area were not selling to the abattoirs.

He said when given a nod by voters, he would anchor his operations on consultations.

He argued that some of the Bobonong constituents had given up on farming owing to rampant elephants that ravaged their crops whilst lions and other cat family devour their livestock.

Mr Ofentse opined that efforts should be taken to not only address the human wildlife conflict and cross-border crime, but also to create sustainable jobs for the electorate.

“Babirwa don’t want government to impose solutions on them,” said Mr Ofentse who added that the electorate wanted to partake in finding lasting solutions to the endless challenges.

He argued that with construction of villages interlink roads; creation of jobs would be fostered as witnessed with driving taxis in Bobonong due to constructed internal roads.

Mr Ofentse said the hospital in Bobonong was overwhelmed by the over 40 000 people in the constituency.

Worse, he said, was the fact that the hospital was not resourced enough, with shortage of medication as a chief concern.

Mr Taolo Lucas of Umbrella for Democratic Change said government needed to erect an electric fence along Botswana-Zimbabwe border as a permanent solution.

He argued that he had been advising on deployment of special support group of Botswana Police Service along the border to curb livestock theft as well as curb destruction of border fence that resulted in animals from Zimbabwe crossing into Botswana and spreading FMD.

Although he was skeptical about Zone Seven being declared a green zone, Mr Lucas said there was need to increase a number of picketers along the border fence as well as the cordon fences.

He was upbeat that his party could deliver the promised 100 000 jobs in the first 12 months of their assuming power.

He dispelled as unwarranted fears by people who said generating 100 000 jobs and subsequently paying workers P3000 minimum wage would collapse economy. In fact, Mr Lucas argued that the move would grow the economy.

Mr Lucas argued that tourism sector was capable of paying workers the minimum P3000 before clearing that all the companies that could would be compelled to pay workers the fee in question.

Though he pitched up with 10 minutes left to end of debate, independent candidate Mr Jan Moshokwa said he needed to go to parliament to represent his people without limitations and confinements.

He argued that unlike party members who were bound by decisions of caucuses, he would freely table the constituency needs.

Mr Moshokwa argued that time was ripe for him to go to parliament where he could advocate for creation of employment for youth especially. ENDS