28 Jul 2019

The Vice president for Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Mr Dumelang Saleshando has dismissed statements by President Mokgweetsi Masisi that increasing  wages and other allowances will cripple the economy. 

Mr Saleshando was speaking at the launch of UDC prospective MP Mr Samuel Rantuana and council candidates on July 27 in Ramotswa.

Mr Saleshando said  increasing income would mean more revenue streams for the government in form of taxes.

 “When you increase salaries, savings will also increase," he said.

He further said that if more people have savings accounts there was less likelihood of them falling in the debt trap. 

Further, Mr Saleshando said as more and more people have purchasing power, ultimately the economy would blossom since businesses would create the much needed jobs.  

However, he  cautioned that the economy would collapse if there was no cash flow.

He nonetheless said Mr Rantuana served as an opposition councillor before he contested for an MP seat in 2014. 

Mr Saleshando said because the electorates were satisfied with his performance at council level, they then voted him to represent the constituency at a higher level at the last general elections as MP.  

He therefore urged Ramotswa constituents to vote him back to Parliament because he had never disappointed

Also at the launch was Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, MP for Selibe Phikwe West who described said Rantuana as an eloquent leader who could debate issues in Parliament in a robust manner.  

He told UDC supporters that Mr Rantuana had advocated for a sports complex in the constituency and many other developments.

 In addition Keorapetse said the prospective candidate had also stood his ground when debating health matters in Parliament.  

He cited for instance that he spoke tirelesy about shortage of nurses and doctors at the Bamalete Lutheran hospital.

Mr Keorapetse Dithapelo emphasised that as the UDC they were against policies of the BDP because their policies had impoverished many Batswana and failed to create enough employment opportunities.  

He also highlighted that the BDP led government had failed to address corruption convincingly.

South East District council chairman Mr Phenyo Segokgo said Samuel Rantuana had achieved a lot during his tenure as MP for Ramotswa constituency.  

When outlining some of his successes he said, the Gaborone-Boatle dual carriage road was constructed under his leadership as well as the fly-over bridge connecting Ramotswa to South Africa border.  

Councillor Segokgo  further stated that areas such as Mogobane and Taung had benefitted under Rantuana’s leadership.  

He cited as an example, the storm water drainage of five km constructed at Mogobane.  He further said the whole of Otse village had paved roads.

Prospective parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central Dr Mpho Pheko said the UDC was committed to doing everything in its power to lessen the effects of economic hardships felt by most citizens.  

She said the BDP led government had allowed for policies that  created an unequal society.  

Therefore she said when UDC assume power, they would eliminate all BDP policies and start afresh with new and better policies that would improve lives of Btswana.  Infrastructure and development of rural areas, she said would be among their top priorities.

Mr Rantuana said the  UDC would create 100 000 jobs in a year if voted into power. Ends