14 Oct 2024

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader, Advocate Duma Boko, has appealed to the Kgalagadi North constituents, to vote for the party’s prospective candidate, Mr Reason Lekhutlane, in the upcoming generals elections.

Speaking at the launch event for Mr Lekhutlane and 12 council candidates on Saturday, Advocate Boko highlighted that every citizen deserved a decent standard of living that met their basic needs, a right enshrined in human rights laws.

“Lo na le tshwanelo ya go tshela botshelo jo bo nang le seriti (It’s your right to live a decent life),” he said.

Advocate Boko pointed out that the UDC’s election manifesto focused on prioritising the well-being of all citizens, outlining key proposals including a P4 000 living wage, P2 500 student allowances, a P1 800 old age pension, and a national school feeding programme.

 He criticised the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) for its failure to provide citizens with a decent living, citing ongoing issues such as low wages, inadequate primary health care, and poor infrastructure.

“Kgalagadi North is one of the economically disadvantaged constituencies,” Advocate Boko noted, pledging that if the UDC is elected, they would work to change the area’s economic status.

 He emphasised the region’s natural resources, such as saltpans, which he believed were underutilised.  

Advocate Boko promised that the UDC would establish salt manufacturing industries and encourage community partnerships to tackle the high unemployment rate affecting the constituency. Additionally, he called for the development of a road network connecting Tsabong to Hukuntsi and Hukuntsi to Ncojane, arguing that improved accessibility would promote economic growth in the region.

“To the voters, I say: Vote the BDP out of power so that they may introspect and rewrite their manifesto to meet the changing needs of the world,” Advocate Boko said.

“Tlhophololang BDP mo setilong, gongwe e tlaa ya go ikaga sesha, mme e tlhwaafale ka go tlhabolola matshelo a lona (Vote the BDP out so that they may go and reorganise themselves so that they improve your lives)” he said.

For his part, Mr Lekhutlane applauded voters for having faith in him to lead the constituency towards the national elections as their candidate.

He said he was committed to work with his council candidates to advocate for robust developments such as water reticulation, road network infrastructure, and electricity distribution and  all areas he believed have been neglected under BDP governance.

 He said he would advocate for inclusive developments and many more that he said would change the economic status of the constituency.

Mr Lekhutlane urged constituents to rally behind the UDC in the national elections and  reassured that they were dedicated to delivering transformative programmes and projects aimed at enhancing sustainable livelihoods in the Kgalagadi region. ENDS