11 Aug 2024

The Radio Botswana Debate on Thursday pitted four parliamentary candidates vying for the Jwaneng/Mabutsane Constituency.

In their debate, they addressed a number of issues ranging from health, education and employment creation. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) prospective candidate, Mr Kgakololo Ramoswaane, said to address the high unemployment rate in Botswana, his party intended to create 300 000 jobs in five years.

Mr Ramoswaane promised P600 unemployment allowance for the youth. He also said through the ‘Bring Back Our Jobs’, they had plans to establish manufacturing companies in Botswana to create jobs through mining value chains. He said priority would be given to the communities in the Jwaneng-Mabutsane Constituency.

He said he would advocate for an improved roads network in the constituency, particularly access roads. He said the current status quo demoralised public officers who frequently use these roads, and subsequently their service delivery was negatively affected.

The prospective candidate for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Mr John Motsumi, said he intended to improve the lives of the constituents through agricultural programmes such as Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo. 

He said since the Jwaneng/Mabutsane residents were a farming community, his focus would be to expand the Jwaneng abattoir to create employment opportunities. He also said he would solicit investment opportunities geared towards developing agricultural value chains, which would in turn create jobs for the locals. 

Mr Motsumi said he would bridge the gap between Jwaneng Mine and the local communities, and tap into existing programmes that could transform their lives and eradicate poverty.

Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF)’s, Mr Mephato Reatile, who is the incumbent, said he was seeking for another term to advocate for an overhaul of the health system within 18 months, to cater for the health needs of all citizens equally. He said his party intended to have private doctors in health facilities within a 50km radius to improve accessibility of quality health care services.

Mr Reatile said through their Mineral Beneficiation Enterprise for Development policy, they intended to lure investors to set up diamond cutting and polishing industries in Botswana to create employment for locals.

He said introducing low tax rates for investors would also promote sustainable investments to benefit local communities beyond diamond mining. He added that his focus would be promoting the growth of local breeds, for both livestock and crops to avoid extinction. 

 Mr Omphemetse Kwapa of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) said he was committed to improving the road infrastructure in the constituency, which he said had stalled developments in major villages such as Mabutsane and Sese. 

He also said he would advocate for a hospital in the constituency to reduce the distance travelled by patients to access services from Jwaneng Mine Hospital.

Mr Kwapa said his focus would be provision of free potable water for all.  

He acknowledged that the Jwaneng Mine was not able to employ everyone, hence his party would create job opportunities through other sectors such as agriculture. He also said he would advocate for improved drug availability in health facilities. ENDs