BPP Candidate Encourages Young Politicians

PATRICIA MAGANU
Staff Writer | Monday October 12, 2009 00:00

He told youthful candidates that they should not despair because they do not have large resources like old politicians. The youthful Othusitse is a council candidate for Donga in Francistown East. He said that young candidates always have a problem of resources regardless of which political party they belonged to. He said that youthful candidates have a problem because their voices are overpowered by those of the veterans. 'Most youth candidates cannot speak freely about their wishes for the constituencies they want to represent,' he said. He added that there are many factors that hold young candidates back.

He said candidates should use the little resources they have to campaign and eventually win elections. 'Candidates with no resources have their legs, eyes, mouths, other God's gifts and our party manifestos to help us campaign and win,' he explained. Othusitse is challenging Moses Nkhwanana for the second time. Though Nkhwanana beat him in 2004, when he represented the BCP, he is hopeful of a win this time because he is better resourced and experienced. 'I have changed my campaign strategy. I have been in extensive house to house campaigns,' he said. He said he has involved community members in projects that will benefit the people even after the elections.  Othusitse said Francistown is underdeveloped and BPP is the party to reverse the trend. 'At this point, this town should have as much activity as Gaborone as far as construction is concerned but there is nothing and it does not look like there will be something soon. The people are being enticed with an airport and stadium because of the 2010 World Cup. What if it were not for the World Cup?

Othusitse complained about the sewage system and blamed the current leaders for not caring about the city. 'I do not think Francistown is even ready to be called a city.

Whatever reason they had for doing so, it was not wise to call a town a city when they knew that they would not afford the developments that a city deserves,' he added. He said it is difficult to walk or drive in Francistown because of flooding during the rainy season. 'The drainage is so poor but no one is doing anything about it,' he said.