23 Oct 2024

Members of the public, especially those living with disabilities and destitute persons should never feel neglected by their political representatives, former Cabinet minister and Molepolole South MP, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe has said.

Launching Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Molepolole North parliamentary candidate, Mr Bashi Kgakge and councillors on Saturday, Mr Kwelagobe said the BDP vowed to take care of every Motswana through social and economic programmes.

Mr Kwelagobe, who served in the BDP Central Committee as chairperson and secretary general, said the social and economic programmes were geared towards assisting the destitute, people living with disabilities and the bed ridden and therefore they should never be left behind.

He appealed to Mr Kgakge to ensure that these members of the community had access to social programmes and were assisted accordingly.

The BDP stalwart took the BDP down memory lane, telling them how the party, formed by the first president, Sir Seretse Khama with Sir Ketumile Masire and others such as Mr Moutlakgola Ngwako had important pillars which were still relevant today.

At the time of independence, Botswana adopted a multi-party democracy although it was surrounded by dictators with one-party rule in countries such as Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi.

Mr Kwelagobe said this was built on traditional foundations of ‘mafoko a Kgotla a mantle otlhe and mmualebe o a bo a bua la gagwe’ loosely translated to mean, in a meeting all suggestions are worth considering.

He said President Seretse Khama was unmoved and remained resolute as he saw the pillar of Democracy as an important tool to build a peaceful and united nation.

Mr Kwelagobe said it was because of this decision that Botswana enjoyed its peace while other countries had experienced conflicts.

He said another pillar was Development and in 1972, President Khama said developments should benefit all citizens.

President Khama reminded them that people were not destitute because of laziness, but it was the responsibility of the government to uplift their lives.

He further said the government made a decision to nationalise all mines for the benefit of everyone in the country, adding this had seen the BDP able to undertake developments in all corners of the country.

It has also been through revenue generated from mines that the country was able to offer social protection to its citizens.

For his part, former MP for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng said he wished to see Mr Kgakge and his councillors winning by large numbers adding this was imperative for the country to continue to enjoy its peace.

Mr Regoeng said the BDP inherited a country that was under developed but was able to provide basic amenities and infrastructure to its citizens.

Mr Kgakge promised to represent the area well and ensure developments earmarked for the constituency were done.

He said amongst the projects that he would make sure they continued was the water project saying the rehabilitation of Molepolole network, would solve the water crisis. ENDS