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WE ARE READY TO LEAD-Saleshando

Thabiso Keiphetlhetswe

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President Dumelang Saleshando has declared that they are ready to take over the Botswana in next coming 2014 general elections.

According to Saleshando the stability that is reigning within BCP, the party growth especially in the number of Members of Parliament, councillors, followers and the shadow cabinet among others made him confident that there is nothing that can hinder them to take the leadership of this country. Saleshando moved on to note out the key aspects that they will focus on during their term. He said focus will be more on labour issues, housing, education, where they will Provide free and compulsory basic education, re-define basic education, we will re-define basic education to mean early childhood, primary, junior and senior secondary schooling.

He moved on to say that there will be emphasise on access, retention and completion. “We will ensure that there is basic education and increase access, promote high retention rates and make all learners achieve high educational success by providing free quality basic education to all,”said Saleshando

On labour issues Saleshando said they aim to create workplace justice and democracy where collective bargaining would be the chief instrument for determining working conditions and salaries; where discrimination on irrational grounds such as gender, pregnancy, marital status, disability, HIV and AIDS will be banished and equal pay for equal jobs will be enforced.

“On housing we intend to ensure that each person has access to decent housing and/or shelter. Our conception of a decent house includes sanitary facilities, storm water drainage, household energy supply and convenient access to clean water. We consider shelter a basic human need that must be met at all cost” said Saleshando

“I urge all Batswana from all walks of life irrespective of political affiliation to use their votes to protect our country against the onslaught of BDP misrule. Our manifesto offers clear and achievable objectives. We are committed to our electoral pledges and will no doubt implement our manifesto as a binding social contract with the voters for 2009 and beyond,” said Saleshando

BDP LAUNCHES MANIFESTO

Thabiso keiphetlhetswe The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has recently launched their roadmap for 2014-2019 general elections. Job creation, food security, lands and housing, education and training and poverty eradication will be among the top overarching electoral aspirations in the BDP manifesto.

In a forward statement from the manifesto BDP President HE.LT.GEN Seretse Khama Ian Seretse Khama said when he entered into a political contract with this nation in 2008, he could not at that time predict the devastating impact of the world collapse of the world economy that took place soon after the last general elections. Despite that they were committed as BDP to develop this country. As they achieved a lot of things. In Education and Training, BDP aims to continue putting more funding into education, driving education reform at all levels, intensifying in-service training for teachers and to introduce national service for university graduates.

Moreover in lands and housing BDP intends to mount land tenure reforms that respond to emerging land rights issues and promoting equitable and transparent land distribution, promote access to land and property rights as a basis for economic development and poverty reduction and promote private sector participation in land servicing and delivery and making land servicing a priority.

Furthermore, in Poverty eradication, BDP are aiming to continue to endeavor to eradicating abject poverty among people, strength flagship programmes aimed at poverty eradication, strive to improve housing provision through funding of low income groups, endeavor to mobilize the nation and private sector to assist destitute persons through community service schemes and presidential housing appeal. BDP President moved to thank the unwavering support and loyalty cannot be taken for granted. “You have proved your role by supporting BDP programs and I have no doubt that that we are in this journey together, “said Khama.

LOW REGISTRATION WORRISOME- BDP

Thabiso Keiphetlhetswe

The Botswana Democratic Party, councilor candidate for Difetlhamolelo ward, Oarabile Bafetanye, in the  Gaborone Bonnington South Constituency has expressed a concern at a rate at which people turnout to register for general elections.

He said this during a music festival organized by the constituency Member of Parliament Hon Botsalo Ntuane and his councilors. According to Bafetanye they organized this music festival to encourage people to register. “The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has urged all party candidates to help them mobilize people to register,” said Bafetanye

Bafetanye moved on to say that one cannot say he/she is going stand for elections while they are failing to encourage people to register to vote. He also said they are well prepared for the elections and promised his potential voters to work hard for the next 5 years if they vote for him.

Botsalo Ntuane reminded people who attended festival that the second supplementary registration is on, till 18 May 2014. Ntuane moved on to introduce his constituency councilors which are Cobra Nthompe for Mosekangwetsi ward, Nunu Lekua for Marulamantsi ward, Oarabile Bafetanye for Difetlhamolelo ward, Pelonomi Bantsi for Kgale View ward, Caven Motana for Morula ward and Kagiso Mongwaketse for Bophirima ward. “I am happy with this turnover, indeed it was a good advertisement,” said Pelonomi Bantsi, councilor candidate for Kgale View

The music festival featured different popular local and South African artists including Dan Tshanda, Dalom kids, ATI, Makau and others.

NO SEGREGATION FOR HIV/AIDS PATIENTS-BCP

Thabiso keiphetlhetswe

The Botswana Congress Party President Dumelang Saleshando has promised voters that there will be no segregation for HIV /AIDS patients once they get into office after this year’s general elections. Saleshando said this during the party manifesto and his launch as the Gaborone Central parliamentary candidate recently.

According to Saleshando currently there are separate lines for HIIV/AIDS patients in hospitals and clinics during the ARV collections, and this fuels up stigmatization among these patients. Of which as the BCP they are against and they will do whatever is possible to fight against it. “All patients must be on the same queue regardless of the nature of their disease,” said saleshando

Saleshando continued say that intend ensure that drugs are available to patients at all times, reduce waiting time for specialized treatment. Eradicate long lines at health facilities by staffing them with medical doctors and a fully-fledged medical team. Promote research on traditional medicine to complement bio-medicine. Give the Ministry of Health the sole responsibility of all matters related to health care. Ensure universal access to basic services such as clean water and immunization. “We will transform the fight against HIV/AIDS into a national emergency by mobilizing leadership at all levels to actively participate in the fight against HIV and AIDS. And reduce vulnerability to HIV infection by reducing the imbalances in income and wealth distribution, increasing employment opportunities, uplifting the status of women and the girl child, and improving functional literacy in the general population,” said Saleshando On his part Lepetu Setshwaelo, the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) president  said this years this coming election will be a significant one in more ways than one. For us as BAM and their electoral partners, BCP this will be an opportunity to offer Batswana their joint vision. “Our vision will be anchored on shared principles and values. At the centre of our objectives and programmes, is the strong desire to avail a better life for all Batswana,” said Setshwaelo

Setshwaelo moved to urge all Batswana from all walks of life irrespective of political affiliation to use their votes to protect our country against the onslaught of BDP misrule. Our manifesto offers clear and achievable objectives. We are committed to our electoral pledges and will no doubt implement our manifesto as a binding social contract with the voters for 2014 and

PONO MOATLHODI QIUTS BDP Thabiso Keiphetlhetswe

A Political Veteran, Deputy National Speaker, and Member of Parliament for Tonota South Hon Pono Moatlhodi announced his resignation from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

According to the MP this was not an easy decision to make as he has a long history with BDP and it made him who he is today, but there are some situations that are forcing him to resign. “I took so many months thinking about this but now I have come to the conclusion and I have delivered the resignation letter to the party leader,” Said Moatlhodi

Moatlhodi moved on to say that he is not happy about what transpired during the BDP primary elections in Tonota as believies he was cheated. “Loads and loads of people were transported with buses from Gaborone to Tonota to go vote me out, I have witnesses who saw all these buses arriving a night before the day of elections, “said Moatlhodi

Moatlhodi also said he has written many letters to the party leadership to alert them about this but there was no response. Moatlhodi continued to say he did not lose to Mr. Thapelo Olopeng but he was rigorously pushed out. And this is not the first time this thing to happen to him as in November 2008 he was expelled from the Party for questioning decision of deploying soldiers from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to lead Botswana Prisons Service (BPS) instead of promoting those who  have been in BPS for  a longer period.

Matlhodi said he his duty is serve people’s interest and he will die serving them. And he will not stand as an independent candidate but for now he does not know which opposition party to join.

“I pray that all Batswana may stand up and vote for the opposition party to create a better Botswana,” said Moatlhodi