BDP F/town to back Muzila financially
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday May 15, 2014 11:44
BDP deputy treasurer Thapelo Olopeng made the declaration at the BDP launch for the Tati East parliamentary candidate Samson Moyo Guma over the weekend.
Yesterday Olopeng, who also oversees BDP campaigns in the Francistown region by virtue of his position in the central committee, expounded on the pledge. 'Firstly we will mobilise resources for her launch. We will use our network as a region to mobilise resources from our friends and party well wishers.
'We want the launch to be massive like the two we have already had in the region. 'Fellow male parliamentary candidates in the region will be tasked to bolster support for Muzila. 'We are doing so (for Muzila) as a way of increasing the number of women in Parliament as well as empowering them,' he added.
Olopeng, whose rise to political stardom has been attributed to his close friendship with President Ian Khama, added that the region would also provide Muzila with campaign resources. He further said that the party has a mandate to take the constituency from the opposition. The constituency is under Wynter Mmolotsi of the Umbrella for Democratic Change, who intends retaining it. Also bidding for Francistown South is Botswana Congress Party (BCP) veteran, Vain Mamela.
'The party is already doing its part by providing fuel and a vehicle to the constituency for campaigns, but as a region we feel we also have to assist Muzila with some resources in a bid to support her parliamentary bid,' said Olopeng.
He added that women who are contesting for council seats in the region will also be offered help during their respective launches with campaign resources as a way of bolstering them. Muzila, the former Francistown District Commissioner, is the only woman parliamentary candidate for the BDP in the Francistown region.
Muzila told Mmegi that, 'This is encouraging to hear a man offering support to women who are contesting for political office. 'Their support will help me cover much ground and prepare thoroughly for the elections.
'It will also send a message to the voters that women are equally capable and possibly encourage other men to support women who want to occupy a political office.'