16 Sep 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has praised  Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Mr Slumber Tsogwane as a reliable and experienced leader.

The President was speaking at the launch of Mr Tsogwane who is the  BDP prospective candidate for Boteti West in  Rakops on Sunday.

Dr Masisi called on voters to re-elect Mr Tsogwane, highlighting his extensive experience in development issues and his recognition within the international community for effectively addressing infrastructural and human development challenges.

President Masisi emphasised that no one could attest to Mr Tsogwane’s capabilities and visionary leadership better than he could.

“Mr Tsogwane is a teacher by profession who dedicated himself to advocating for the people after retiring from teaching,” Dr Masisi remarked, urging voters to grant Tsogwane another five-year term to continue with the exemplary leadership he  demonstrated over the years.

In addition to endorsing Tsogwane, President Masisi addressed Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activists, urging them to refrain from attacking party leadership on social media and warning against voting for opposition parties enticed by promises such as food packages.

Dr Masisi cautioned that opposition parties do not have the country’s best interests at heart, alleging that they have borrowed funds from foreign sponsors with plans to exchange local mineral resources in return.

“The money they seek will not be invested in development projects but is intended solely to alter the current leadership,” he stated.

Dr Masisi further characterised the opposition as ‘thorn in the flesh’ of the nation, insisting that Batswana would not be swayed into selling their minerals and land.

In his address, President Masisi also announced an upcoming livestock production initiative titled ‘Maja a ikgorosa,’ designed to empower small-scale farmers. This programme will offer various support packages, enabling farmers to develop feedlots on their properties.

Moreover, Dr Masisi accused the Umbrella for Democratic Change(UDC) of deliberately delaying the Boteti southern and central cluster villages water project by disguising their actions under the Khwee-Dom Council, describing the three-year delay as detrimental and asserting that additional funding would be necessary for completion.

For his part Mr Tsogwane thanked President Masisi for having chosen him as  Vice President, addingthat it meant a lot to people of Boteti.

He praised the President for his visionary leadership, noting that Dr Masisi had done a lot of positive things for the country within a short period of time, despite challenges, such as COVID-19.

He said the current administration, given its manifesto and programmes, was committed to fight poverty and unemployment among others.

He therefore implored Batswana to vote for the BDP in the upcoming general elections because the party had stood the test of time.

Central Regional BDP Chairperson, Mr Bethuel Botumile, drummed up support for Mr Tsogwane, saying the Boteti West former MP had done a lot for the constituency in terms of infrastructural developments thus he deserved to be re-elected.

He cited the P669 million water projects, stadium, health facilities and the proposed mini Rural Administration Centre among other developments brought  by Mr Tsogwane’s leadership. Ends