06 Oct 2019

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) parliamentary candidate, Ms Dorcus Makgato and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) candidate, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang expressed their suitability to be Sefhare/Ramokgonami parliamentarian in the 12th Parliament after the general elections.

They expressed their views during a Radio Botswana parliamentary debate that took place at Sefhare Secondary School on Saturday night.

Ms Makgato said the BDP was a responsible organisation with a manifesto and traceable record since it started governing the country, saying the party was trustworthy and reliable.

She said the party intended to continue fighting corruption as demonstrated by the declaration off assets act introduced recently, noting that party President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had also introduced policies that would empower women and give them the right to own land or a plot though in marriage unlike previously.

Ms Makgato said the party also worked on a budget and prospects for development, indicating where the funds for developments would be sourced and how the funds would be used.

She urged residents of the constituency to vote for her and the BDP, noting that in the past five years whilst the area MP she managed to advocate for developments to take place in the constituency.

She said government had invested over P1 billion in developments in the area.

She said the Radisele/Pilikwe road costed P120 million, Mhalapitsa road was budgeted for P17 million. She said other roads would be constructed, noting that P100 million had been budgeted for the projects.

She said clinics were upgraded at Matlhako, Mhalapitsa and Sefhare.

She said government also introduced IDCC (Infectious Diseases Control Centre) at Pilikwe and Chadibe and another clinic was planned for Mokobeng.

She further noted that developments had taken place in the constituency due to her effort and the BDP government, and as such people should vote for her and the party to continue bringing developments and uplifting the lives of Batswana..

Ms Makgato further said government was working around the clock to connect villages that fall under the constituency to the North South Water Carrier.

She explained that shortage of water in the constituency was due to the fact that boreholes in the area that provided water could not handle the demand.

She said if voted into power the BDP intended to diversify the country’s economy from minerals to knowledge based economy.

She said Information Communication Technology would play a major role in realising the objective during this time when fourth industrial revolution was at hand.

Dr Gobotswang said his party would re-open the BCL and Tati Nickel Mine to create employment.

He said the UDC government would create 100 000 jobs in 12 months when in power and introduce P3 000 minimum living wage, P1 500 old age pension, P2 500 student living allowance.

He said his party would provide free sanitary pads for young women and free education.

Dr Gobotswang went on state his party would ensure there was improvement of performances in schools, saying schools such as Mmadinare Senior Secondary, Good Hope Secondary, Mogoditshane Secondary School, Shakawe and Nata secondary schools were not performing well.

He said focus should not only be put on infrastructural development, but also on social issues and his party would bring improvements in the education sector to reap out good results.

He said there was no need to build clinics and hospitals without medicine or running short of drugs.

Dr Gobotswang further noted that his party would improve roads in the constituency which he said were in a bad state, saying his party would also improve the state of classrooms in some schools which he said was deplorable.

He called on constituents to vote for him and his party to realise its intentions.

He said his party would develop infrastructure in the constituency and also uplift the living standards of Batswana. ENDS