BCP promises to uproot corruption
Onalenna Kelebeile | Thursday July 3, 2014 07:00
Speaking during the launch of Selebi-Phikwe West candidates on Tuesday, Saleshando said it is not his party’s intention to persecute those who will be relieved of their positions of power. He, however, said that the party would have no mercy on corrupt individuals.
“If President Ian Khama does not take them to task through the courts of law, then he will join them in the dock,” he said.
He added that as the world has joined hands in the ‘Bring Back our Children’ campaign in Nigeria, he will embark on a parallel campaign in countries that process minerals mined from Botswana to say bring back our jobs. “I will go to Norway. I will go to Israel. I will go to India to ask them to bring back our jobs because it is senseless to export jobs that could benefit Batswana,” he said.
“I will also go to President Jacob Zuma in South Africa to ask him to bring back our jobs because our soda ash is processed there,” he added. He rubbished recent allegations that his party was responsible for FIFA’s action on BFA over constituency leagues.
He added that what BCP is advocating for are sports academies not constituency leagues because he said countries reach the world cup through football academies and not constituency leagues. He also added that his party is ready to lead and has demonstrated the potential of a clean government.
Saleshando added that they are the only party that has promoted youth representation as well as a high number of women candidates.
He added that he has long wished for the opportunity to launch Dithapelo Keorapetse as a parliamentary candidate for Selebi-Phikwe West to disabuse allegations that he (Saleshando) is set to contest in Selebi-Phikwe.
For his part Keorapetse said once in Parliament he will challenge BCL to reveal how much money was spent on foreign companies the mine engaged at the expense of local companies. He said he will also want to know how many casual labourers the mine employed and furthermore, what government intends to do to address the situation at the mine since it is a major shareholder.
He said that he will also move that Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) should build another campus in Selebi-Phikwe.
He added that he will also challenge government to conduct thorough research on youth unemployment and the way forward.
Francistown South parliamentary candidate Vain Mamela decried high poverty levels in the country warning that government is not safe under such an environment.
He added that BCP will capitalise on the abundant minerals and tourism opportunities in the country to create employment. He accused the ruling party of dismally failing to diversify the country’s economy but instead opting to rely on mineral royalties while it also failed on mineral beneficiation.
He said the absence of mineral beneficiation means jobs are exported to benefit other countries. He added that the current challenging times need a parliament that consists of principled and patriotic politicians with conviction not a bunch of bootlickers.
He warned Batswana that if they do not change the guard then the country will plunge into turmoil under the ruling party. He dismissed government programmes, which he said are meant to buy votes and emphasised that they will fight corruption to the bitter end. He also dismissed UDC as just a dissident section of the ruling party who will rejoin BDP after elections.
“BCP is tried and tested and has gone through all experiences, hence it is ready to lead,” he said.