27 May 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has urged the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)  members in the (Shoshong/Mahalapye) SHOMA region to throw weight behind prospective candidates for Mahalapye East, Mahalapye West and Shoshong in a bid to claim the constituencies.

President Masisi further pleaded with party members not to repeat what they did in the 2019 general elections where they voted for the opposition parties in the said constituencies. 

“I therefore plead with you to work hard and take back Mahalapye East, Mahalapye West and Shoshong constituencies from the opposition,” he said during the  SHOMA region star rally in Mookane on May 26.

He said in 2019, Batswana voted for the BDP in high numbers and they should continue to do so in the coming general elections. 

He urged the SHOMA region constituents to vote for him through the BDP candidates so that they could work together to bring developments and for the country to realise its aspirations. 

Also, he encouraged them to persuade new members to join the party and sell its programmes to non-party members. President Masisi described BDP as the only party that was organised and peaceful. 

He said the BDP had good reputation, a good track record and it was also trustworthy. 

“I urge you to commit yourselves to the party constitution and to preach it during campaigns,” he said, adding... “you are what you are because of the constitution of the party."

He said there was no other party that could match the BDP because it was trusted, and had been able to grow from strength to strength despite some challenges. 

Dr Masisi also said the BDP was the only party that had a stable system and always engaged through consultation. 

In moving Botswana forward, he urged party members to drive the vision, noting that  in 2019 his party made commitments to Batswana and those commitments could not be made in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, government had to deal with the pandemic to protect the lives of Batswana, he said. 

He pleaded with the constituents to remind voters about these issues during campaigns. 

President Masisi said BDP members should talk about programmes such as Thuo Letlotlo, Temo Letlotlo and Chema Chema as they were aimed at improving the  lives of Batswana. 

The BDP Secretary-General Mr Kavis Kario said because of President Masisi’s concrete actions, the BDP was a worthy party that could be trusted by Batswana hence the need to vote for it. Mr Kario called on the BDP members to support their leader and attract voters so that the party could win in the general elections. 

Regional chairperson, Mr Joseph Tjienda informed President Dr Masisi that Batswana have responded to the Chema Chema programme in large numbers. 

During the rally, the BDP also welcomed from the opposition parties, new members. ends