Lotlamoreng, Molale In Btv Debate
Staff Writer | Monday August 10, 2015 15:39
In fact observers say the debate comes at the right time for Molale, exactly two days before the Saturday by-election and will be enough to help him sway opinion of the voter to his side. The debate will be held in Molale’s home village of Pitshane-Molopo on Wednesday, from 7-9pm.
The live television broadcast is expected to give the voters a full picture about the two main rivals fighting for the vacant position left open by James Mathokgwane of the UDC two months ago. Molale has been the embodiment of Botswana government administration for the last 12 years, as Permanent Secretary to the President. He knows all about government administration, policies and programmes as he has been on the forefront of their implementation.
Molale also boasts several academic qualifications and acumen that saw him rise from district commissioner to permanent secretary, Permanent Secretary to the President and now Minister in President Ian Khama’s cabinet.
It is this wealth of knowledge and experience that is expected to come out as he attempts to shine and woo his prospective voters. His main opponent, Kgosi Lotlamoreng II, though young and with little public administration knowledge is also a learned man.
He holds a Law degree from the University of the North West in South Africa and had been, for more than a decade, doing national duty in tribal administration. He assumed the reigns in his early 20s as Barolong kgosi and took leave of absence from royal duties less than a month ago, and thus handed the reigns as the deputy chairman of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi.
Kgosi Lotlamoreng is hoping to use the TV and radio debates to capitalise on lack of development, with lack of basics as water, jobs, roads, banking and shopping facilities – issues that have become key to his campaign. Also on Lotlamoreng’s agenda is expected to be the dying commercial cattle farming, which used to be the backbone of the Barolong’s economy. Of course also in the running, though with little chance but vocal, is the Botswana Congress Party’s Comfort Maruping.