UDC's Maplanka wins Bosele
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 28, 2023 06:00
Maplanka said it was not an easy feat, but hope prevailed as he won the by-election due to residents understanding his messaging. He managed to defeat four other candidates with 340 votes.
He beat the Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) Isaac Moseki who got 310 votes, the Botswana Congress Party's (BCP) Kgomotso Kaelo who received 228 votes, the Botswana Labour Party's (BLP) Olebile Sesupo who garnered 13 votes, and independent candidate Molomo Montsho, who lost with eight votes. Speaking to The Monitor, Maplanka said: “I dedicate this win to the residents of Bosele ward together with the members of UDC as they were working tirelessly to ensure that I win the area. If it were not for them, I would not have made it.
What is left for me is to deliver what I have promised members of this area. "The concern of Bosele residents is the internal roads which are very bad and the poor water drainage system that ends up causing floods in residents’ yards when it rains," Maplanka said. A burning issue is rubble that contributes to the filth in this area.
Another issue that Maplanka raised is the high crime rate which he said the residents of the area are worried about. He said it is time residents, businesspeople, community leaders, and the Botswana Police Service (BPS) in the area start to work hand in hand since the police cannot win the battle alone without their help. He stressed that what contributes a lot to crime is the bush areas that they keep on asking the Gaborone City Council to assist in de-bushing but nothing has been done.
However, his campaign manager Tshepo Moloko said he believes that the newly elected councillor will be sworn in this week and will be able to bring a difference to the ward if he works well with council employees and makes them understand what is happening in the ward. “Hard work has made us win and we discussed with residents what could be done to improve the status of the ward," Moloko said. "If the council had sworn to work with Batswana then nothing could make him fail if he keeps his promises. Again Batswana believe in consultation. If he has problems then he knows the forums that he could use to speak to them.
I do not doubt that Maplanka has the potential to bring changes to this ward since it has been neglected for too long. He will ensure that both businesspeople and residents work together to improve the area. Bosele ward has an industrial site and business owners have a responsibility to also play a role in the community they are operating in,” he said.