06 Oct 2013

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has urged residents of Kgagodi in Mmadinare constituency to register for the 2014 general elections in large numbers.

Registration for elections started on October 4 and will end on October 27. Addressing a kgotla meeting in Kgagodi on October 4, Dr Kedikilwe said it was the right and responsibility of everybody eligible to vote to register and cast their ballot in the general elections.

He therefore implored residents to register and vote in high numbers for the government of their choice. The Vice President said if they registered in small numbers, then the democracy that had been enjoyed by this country since independence would be questionable.

Dr Kedikilwe, who is also MP for Mmadinare, said it was upon Batswana to protect the country’s democratic system, adding that democracy should be nourished by participating in elections .Residents were also urged to ensure that their Omang cards were valid as expired cards would not be accepted during registration and voting.

Commenting on Kgagodi Development Association, the Vice President said residents should search for other water sources for their horticulture project whilst awaiting judgement of the land tribunal regarding the borehole they intended to use.

He also said he wanted the community horticulture and milling projects in Kgagodi and Diloro up and running so that communities in those areas could benefit. On other issues, Dr Kedikilwe informed residents to make use of the newly reviewed ISPAAD programme to improve their harvest.

He said the new programme would only benefit farmers who row planted noting that the intention was to improve food production. He said there was no point in broadcasting seeds in a 16 hectare field and end up reaping low yields. Dr Kedikilwe noted that with row planting, farmers could plant as little as five hectares which will get them a good harvest.

For their part, residents welcomed the newly reviewed ISPAAD programme but complained about shortage of farm implements. Ends