25 Aug 2019

Lentsweletau/Mmopane constituency has the potential to excel as an agricultural hub given its favourable climatic and environmental conditions and proximity to the city. 

The sentiments were shared by the five prospective candidates for the constituency under the flagship of their respective representation during the ongoing parliamentary debates on Thursday.

They were; independent candidate, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Alliance for Progressives (AP) and the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).

The prospective candidates believed that the areas making up the constituency could be exploited for beef production, small stock, sorghum, legumes and fodder, rather than for the villages to serve as a dormitory for the commuters.

BDP aspiring candidate Ms Nnaniki Makwinja said her, electorate would ensure that President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi continued with his development agenda.

She said BDP government was doing all it could for Batswana by having taken the decision to amend the Land Act. 

She said this would allow Batswana to use half of their ploughing fields in any business activity, which was environmentally friendly and not disruptive for the neighbours.

Further, she said farmers were encouraged to group themselves into clusters for the government to provide them with services such as roads and electricity, an initiative that would benefit many.

Ms Makwinja urged the residents to venture into small stock farming as it had been found that it thrived, especially in the area.

She said everything outlined in the party’s manifesto addressed job creation, adding that their aim was to create permanent jobs.

Ms Makwinja said already progress had been made in developing roads linking Lentsweletau with nearby villages as the affected people were to be compensated. She explained that the BDP manifesto also addressed the need to reduce the class size to 30 pupils per class and this, therefore, called for additional classrooms and teachers.

She said maintenance of schools and health facilities in the constituency had been a thorny issue, but it had already started in some villages among them Hatsalatladi.

Ms Makwinja said the government had decided to decentralise administration of water services to the districts, saying this would remove bottlenecks and improve service delivery.

Mr Olebogeng Watshipi of UDC said their manifesto was the only one that had specified targets. He said his party was concerned with the welfare of Batswana.

He clarified that the minimum wage of P3 000 applied only to people employed in the formal sector and that studies would be undertaken on how the informal sector could be brought on board.

His opinion was that maids and herdsmen were already provided with free accommodation and food in addition to their payments.

The UDC candidate said by setting up a minimum living wage, livelihoods would be improved as many would be able to source loans from banks, thereby leading to a vibrant economy.

He said the intention was to advocate for an efficient road network within the constituency and to fight against high levels of crime in the area, including corruption.

On health, he said he would ensure that facilities in the constituency improved their service standards and supply of medicines.

For his part, Mr Lucky Tshireletso of the BMD said his party aimed to develop the local economy, which would lead to the improved lives of Batswana.

The prospective candidate said his intention was to create an entity similar to Selebi Phikwe Economic Development Unit (SPEDU) to advocate for investment in the Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency.

He said by virtue of being close to the city, the constituency should be the agricultural hub to provide food for the city dwellers.

He observed that the constituency faced a number of challenges. 

Mr Tshireletso promised to advocate for sewerage system in the area, saying the pit latrines would only pollute the environment.

Independent candidate Mr Solly Gower promised to address lack of employment by luring investors to the constituency, adding that his words and influence would carry more weight when he is an MP.

He said unemployment had forced some youths even thosse with Master’s Degree to venture into criminal activities.

Mr Gower also decried the poor state of roads in the constituency. 

He said he would advocate for more clinics in the constituency to operate on a 240hours basis.

The independent candidate urged electorate not to vote according to party lines, but for individuals,  saying it was better to look at the capability of an individual.

Bishop Godwin Samuel of AP said it was his party’s wish that every Motswana should own a residential plot.

He further said people owning tribal land plots should be allowed to use them as security in order to access loans from commercial banks.

Bishop Samuel said Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency faced serious water shortages and said his party would harvest rainwater and use some for irrigation purposes.

His party will also address education and provide pupils from Standard Four with necessary skills and nurture them as they grow.

Bishop Samuel said he would ensure that the high crime rate was addressed. 

The coal from Masama Coal Mine, he said, should be turned into petroleum products as the end product would be employment opportunities. ENDS