Masisi promises mouth watering SONA
Boniface Keakabetse | Wednesday November 1, 2017 14:51
Addressing a political rally in Maun over the weekend, Masisi said Khama would announce new economic initiatives to cover solutions to unemployment.
The address is expected at the opening of the November Parliament. Masisi said Khama’s address would stipulate how government intends to solve economic problems.
Masisi stated that Ngamiland should wait to hear how government intends to address the burning issue of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the district, which has experienced active FMD recurrence since 2007.
On other issues, Masisi vowed that they are targeting to recruit members from the opposition ranks citing Ivory Keekee, Lotty Manyepetsa and Bagalatia Arone as some of the high profile ones they have in their fold. He said no opposition member could say ‘no’ to BDP recruitment, promising to grab more.
“Opposition parties you must know we are coming for your members.” The VP once against declared his affection for the leader of the newly formed Alliance for Progressives, Ndaba Gaolathe. He told the rally that Gaolathe was the one who was writing speeches, such as responses to previous SONA on behalf of Umbrella for Democratic Change leader, Duma Boko. “We will see who will write for him,” Masisi challenged.
Singing praises of the local leader, Masisi told the gathering that it was Maun East Member of Parliament (MP), Konstantinos Markus who suggested the introduction of the constituency development fund during the BDP caucus. He said government eventually adopted the motion. He added that in future government might increase the P10 million funding per each constituency. He expressed his support for Markus, quashing sentiments that the MP was ineffective in the House. The BDP recruit from the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Arone took to the podium, saying Botswana is the only country in Africa “where opposition MPs can get government tenders”.
Arone rhetorically asked why opposition leaders are doing business with the same government they criticise. He declared that even he, as then opposition member, and another BCP leader, former MP for Chobe, Gibson Nshingwe benefited from Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency tenders.
Yet another new recruit, Manyapetsa declared that opposition parties were not in a state to take power, as they are conflict-ridden.
Another speaker, the North West District Council (NWDC) deputy chairperson, Lathang Molonda said that government is continuing to develop Maun East citing Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital. He said the NWDC has built internal roads and street lighting in the constituency. Molonda said elsewhere in Maun, there is paving projects using the constituency development fund.