15 Oct 2019

Mr Gaontebale Mokgosi, the Real Alternative Party (RAP) parliamentary candidate for Gaborone-Bonnington South and party chairman, will, if elected, advocate for the equitable distribution of Botswana’s wealth to ensure that Batswana benefit in equal measure.

Addressing the constituency’s voters during his launch on October 13, Mr Mokgosi attributed societal ills such as soaring unemployment, high crime rates and the sluggish pace of developments to unequitable resource distribution and the continual pushing of certain sections of the society to the periphery of the economy.

The party chairman also indicated that once in office, he would advocate for better pay for Botswana’s workers.

Mr Mokgosi said the low pay negatively impacted the health of workers and gave rise to non-communicable diseases, as employees could not afford to exercise healthy eating habits among other things.

Moreover, the candidate said he would also push for the optimum utilisation of land.

He said he would advocate for the setting up of mini industries in Gaborone-Bonnington South from which residents could operate businesses such as bakeries.

Regarding what else he would do for the constituency, Mr Mokgosi said because RAP abhorred the violations of labour rights, he would hire a lawyer to represent Gaborone-Bonnington South residents whenever they had labour grievances that needed legal representation.

On the one hand, he dismissed government’s drive to transform Botswana from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, saying with knowledge itself being a resource, there was no way the two could be divorced from each other.

Gaborone-Bonnington North candidate, Mr Onkemetse Clark-Lerubisi concurred that workers in Botswana were suffering as a result of low pay, adding that those in the lowest paying jobs were generally neglected as not much was being done to change their plight.

Gabane-Mmankgodi parliamentary candidate, Mr Nkwalili Nkosana said every Motswana, regardless of societal standing, must enjoy the fruits of the country’s economy.

He said RAP was committed to the restoration of Batswana’s dignity through among other things, full and gainful employment as well as the provision of decent shelter.

Mr Nkosana said RAP believed that an economy driven by industrialisation was the way to go.

He however said the situation in Botswana was disheartening as the economy was driven by money taken from workers through taxation.

He implored voters to vote for Mr Mokgosi, describing him as a capable candidate who would do his best to promote and safeguard their interests. ENDS