• 

12 Mar 2023

Democrats are duty-bound to protect the future of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and that of the country.

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said this at a victory celebration for Boteti West MP and Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane in Xhumo on Saturday. 

The President said BDP members should strive to grow the party membership base to guarantee its further stay in power.

That, he said, would accord the party an opportunity to deliver on its policies and programmes for the continued betterment of the citizenry.

Dr Masisi said it was heart warming that the BDP had, since inception, managed to endear itself to Batswana through, among other things, its respect for laid-down procedures and processes as well as for its consultative spirit.

On COVID-19 having threatened to derail government from delivering on the promises it had made to the nation through the party manifesto in the build-up to the 2019 general elections, President Masisi said it was pleasing that despite the uncertainty that the outbreak of the disease had brought, government still made inroads in some areas.

Dr Masisi also said government had upped the ante in delivering key water projects with 98 per cent of the population now enjoying access to water reticulation services.

Furthermore, he stated that high speed Internet connectivity had been made available to many Batswana, adding that learners in public schools were continuing to receive educational electronic gadgets in the form of laptops, tablets and accompanying devices to aid teaching and learning.

He noted that the recent launch of the use of identity cards for cross border travel between Botswana and Namibia was another milestone for which his government deserved commendation.

“I will also engage with my Zimbabwean counterpart to explore the possibility of adopting the same arrangement for our countries and after Zimbabwe, Zambia will be next,” he said.

In other issues, Dr Masisi commended Boteti West voters for giving the BDP a fresh mandate in 2019, a move that he said gave Botswana a visionary Vice President whose love and dedication to the nation was unquestionable.

“We are here to express our gratitude to you for having given us a leader of the Vice President’s calibre. Your vote gave Botswana a Vice President. I am therefore here to offer my gratitude for his dedication to serving this nation,” he said.

BDP secretary general, Mr Kavis Kario, appealed to party cadres to rally behind the leadership as that was one way of guaranteeing that the BDP continued to serve the interests of the nation. Mr Kario patted Dr Masisi and his deputy on the back for captaining the ship well.

And Women’s Wing chairperson, Ms Peggy Serame thanked Mr Tsogwane for his role in governance. 

Regarding the party, Ms Serame said with its track record, she had no doubt that BDP would retain power in 2024.

In his remarks, Vice President Tsogwane preached unity among party members, labelling discord and strife as enemies of progress.

Mr Tsogwane further thanked President Masisi for his relentless drive to empower Batswana.

“His international travels are proof of this and it is pleasing to note that they are already paying off. What the President wants is for Botswana to trade with other nations. The time for donations is over; we should, therefore, support the President so that he achieves more,” Mr Tsogwane added. Ends