Opposition unsettles BDP in Kgatleng

Lerato Maleke | Friday October 3, 2014 10:49

 

The opposition threat has become so real that the BDP president, Ian Khama spent the Independence holidays canvassing support for parliamentary hopefuls Mpho Moruakgomo and Unity Dow in the Mochudi East and West constituencies.

The President’s visit culminated in a star rally held in Malolwane. Most of the attendees were people from outside wards like Boseja Central, South, North, and Oodi village. The river villages are reported to be opposition strongholds. 

Khama did not hide his concerns about the opposition parties’ threat, pleading with Mochudi East residents to vote BDP in high numbers.

He praised Moruakgomo as a great leader, adding that he would like to work with him and his team to bring developments to Kgatleng.

In turn, Moruakgomo said Khama is a unique president who doesn’t want to see Batswana starving. He made several promises to the constituents, among them bringing horticulture along the Madikwe River from surrounding river villages via Olifants Drift to Ramatlabama.

Khama’s next stop was Mochudi West in the afternoon. Scores of people thronged Moshawana ward freedom square, which was painted red by the scores of BDP supporters.

The large crowd laughed and ululated when Khama praised Dow and said she is beautiful in comparison to the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Botlogile Tshireletso.

“You must vote for this beautiful woman. Anyway let me not say more about her beauty because Mahalapye residents will now turn against Mma Tshireletso because I said Dow is more beautiful,” he said amidst laughter.

After this dry joke, Khama promised to unravel the bogosi issue. He said a Bakgatla delegation, led by Minister Peter Siele, would meet with Bakgatla soon. Khama said Dow would easily sweep through against the United Democratic Congress candidate, Gilbert Mangole, who he alleged was aligned to factions.

Khama also ridiculed the recently launched Botswana Congress Party bus, saying that it can only travel on tarred roads. He boasted that that he had dispersed 57 BDP vehicles in all the constituencies, which would assist Batswana countrywide. He said Saleshando could not be a president, more so that he recently forgot to put his signature on a form during the presidential nominations. 

“O ka nna tauotona jang a lebala go saena? (How can he be a president when he forgets to sign important documents?),” said Khama.

He also declared that despite the criticism he faced, he would continue to distribute blankets and food hampers to the poor. He insisted that Ipelegeng and other BDP programmes are enshrined in the manifesto and would continue to be allocated high priority as way of eradicating poverty.

For her part, Dow urged Bakgatla to vote for her and President Khama if they want to see tangible changes in the area. She added that Mangole doesn’t stand a chance in Mochudi East as he has lost relevance.