Saleshando to launch Gobotswang
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday May 21, 2014 11:21
The launch will start with a motorcade in the morning and entertainment will be provided by Charma Gal of Culture Spears fame.
Having previously, on two occasions, taken part in the elections for the same area formerly known as Tswapong South and performed exceptionally well, Gobotswang said this time around he is buoyed by the real prospect of snatching the constituency from the incumbent Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Gobotswang will face off against the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcus Makgato-Malesu, who defeated the assistant minister of Agriculture Oreeditse Molebatsi in the BDP primaries last year.
“The mood in the camp is quite electric and the party foresees something close to a landslide victory. This time around we are going all out so that our people must know that there is no longer time for experimenting as this has cost us developments in the constituency. They must now go to the polls with one thing in mind, to bring change to Sefhare-Ramokgonami. Chibi che a kekela,” said Gobotswang, meaning his strikes in the constituency are getting significant daily.
Gobotswang, one of the founding members of the BCP, said he is passionate about community development and abhors any form of discrimination. Like all other opposition candidates, Gobotswang decried the expensive nature of electioneering, noting that funding democracy from one’s pocket is a huge challenge. “If not well managed it could destroy the family and impoverish someone. But it is a sacrifice worth taking.
“It is an emotionally rewarding service to the nation. My ultimate sacrifice was when I took early retirement by university standards, to focus on politics that is close to my heart. Another challenge is the multiple roles of being in the leadership of the party, having to write party documents and being a candidate at the same time,” he said.
Gobotswang, the BCP shadow vice-president, said he is going to advocate for fast tracking of the implementation of promised developments, that include the tarring of Mokobeng-Maape-Radisele road, the construction of a senior secondary school, the construction of a second police station, the establishment of a fully fledged district council in Tswapong, construction of a technical college, the construction of the Machaneng-Mookane-Dibete road and the upgrading of Moshopha-Shakwe road. He is concerned about the construction of a storage facility for radiation waste material in Pilikwe. “I will fight to end the 10 years of zero development in the area. The area is a potential bread bucket of the nation. I will advocate for construction of small dams for commercialisation of agricultural production as well as improved infrastructure such as roads.”
High unemployment and underemployment, poor examinations results, learner’s ratio in many schools and poor supply of books are some of the challenges he is tackling. He is also worried by poor maintenance of schools, continued use of pit latrines in schools, continued use of open trucks to transport learners and the generally neglected public service workforce.
Gobotswang added that there is a shortage of drugs in health facilities, poor maintenance of health facilities, shortage of blankets, beddings and food at Sefhare Primary Hospital.