20 Aug 2024

Prospective parliamentary candidates for Kgalagadi North constituency recently converged at Lehutshelo Junior Secondary School in Hukuntsi to debate development issues in that constituency as build up to the upcoming general elections.

Discussions during the Radio Botswana debate ranged  from water shortage, unemployment, need for promotion of health services and shortage of farming land.

The parties were represented by Mr Reason Moraedi Lekhutlhane of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Mr Obakeng Moumakwa of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Moatlhodi Mahupu of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) who have shown interest to contest for the Kgalagadi North constituency.

The aspiring candidates shared their party road maps regarding the impending developments they aspired to bring to the community, each of them assuring that they were the right candidates.

UDC’s Mr Lekhutlhane said, if elected, he would resolve as a matter of urgency the long standing problem of water scarcity in the district and also strive towards redeeming his constituents from the hardship of unemployment.

Mr Lekhutlhane said in an effort to ensure improved quality of health, his plan was to call for upgrading of all the health post in the district. He said it was time a referral hospital was built  in Kang, given its strategic location to service residents.

On unemployment, he said the aim was to liberate constituents from poverty by creating employment opportunities especially to the youth.

Mr Lekhutlhane said he would push for industrialisation of the Zutshwa Salt Pan, a community based project currently running at a minimal scale.

He shared that there was a need to engage expert to establish value chains that could be derived, adding that currently the salt was only utilised to feed livestock.

Other developments of priority for him, include installation of streetlights and upgrading of the Rural Administration Centre to district level.

Mr Moumakwa of UDC shared that economic challenges in the district were as a result of standardised intervention programmes offered to people regardless of their geographical location and needs in their respective areas.

He said the Kgalagadi North constituency was unique and required tailored programmes that suits the needs of community.

He, therefore, said he would ensure that considerations were  made to establish opportunities best suited in respective districts instead of standardising programmes.

He said if elected, he would strive to ensure that the National Water Masterplan was adjusted such that it distinguished water supply for households and that of livestock.

Moumakwa also said UDC would push to ensure that consideration was made for government to compensate farmers for loss of their livestock as a result of predators on equal amount regardless of the type of species.

He said the current compensation arrangement where 100 per cent applies only when damage was caused by lions and elephants while 35 per cent was on the rest of other species was inadequate.

Mr Mahupu of BDP agreed that the district was grappling with the challenge of water. However, he said that  would be a thing of the past since a project was ongoing to address the problem, a credit he gave to his party.

He said BDP sets strides overtime which deserved applause, adding it was crucial for electorate to recognise the journey BDP has held with them from the early years of independence.

Mr Mahupu added that the most excruciating matter that needed to be addressed was shortage of farm land. He, however, said should  he be given a chance to lead the constituency,  issues of land would be part of his priority.

He said he would establish how part of the land currently occupied as the wildlife management area could be utilised to accommodate farming.

His priority would also include tarring of Lokgwabe - Tsabong Road, adding that once constructed, the road would strategically create benefits for the constituents. ENDS