Africa-Press – Botswana. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leadership has made a plea to Kgatleng West constituents to vote for Dr Unity Dow, the parliamentary candidate representing the party in the upcoming general elections scheduled for October this year.
During the launch of the party’s candidate in Rasesa on Saturday, BCP leader Mr Dumelang Saleshando extolled Dr Dow’s remarkable record as a human rights activist. Notably, he said, she had initiated and won a civil case against the government at the age of 29, securing the rights of her children to acquire citizenship.
At 39, Dr Dow was appointed as a High Court judge, a testament to her dedication and intellect, according to Mr Saleshando. She became the second woman to be nominated as a Specially Elected
Member of Parliament for two consecutive terms, and in her first term, she was designated as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
However, she eventually opted to relinquish her membership in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and stepped down from her ministerial position.
This decision was made following a refusal to assume a seat at the Pan African Parliament after it was left vacant the removal of Kgosi Seboko from her post. Mr Saleshando underscored her resolute stance, accentuating that she declined the offer to avoid displacing another woman.
Highlighting her contributions, Mr Saleshando mentioned Dr.Dow’s advocacy for human rights, particularly in the case concerning the Basarwa community of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).
Mr Saleshando said the BCP was prepared for the impending elections, while other parties were mired in internal strife and were yet to conduct their primary elections.
As the MP for Maun East, he asserted that his party prioritises employment, with plans to create 300 000 jobs within a span of five years. Moreover, he noted that while the BCP had already crafted its manifesto, other parties were still referencing their 2019 manifestos. He elaborated that the BCP was the only party with a comprehensive plan, with a manifesto launch scheduled for February 21.
Mr Saleshando detailed the party’s intentions to attract investments amounting to 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and outlined their strategy to achieve this objective.
In her address, Dr Dow lamented the diminishing aspects of governance, expressing disdain for unfulfilled promises and pervasive falsehoods, which ultimately compelled her resignation from the
BDP and her subsequent affiliation with the BCP. She criticized the BDP for its failings, including prolonged delays in the allocation of residential plots.
Still at the parliamentary candidate launch, BCP introduced its counci candidates the Kgatleng West Mr Kgololo Kgetse, speaking on behalf of the council candidates, highlighted the inadequate water supply in certain parts of Bokaa, despite the village having a dam, attributing this to the government’s failure to expand water networks.
Additionally, Mr Kgetse identified Pilane as having the potential to serve as an industrial hub, ripe with opportunities for employment generation. He lamented the government’s decision to rescind a plan to establish a power plant at the Pilane landfill, replacing it with a proposed shopping complex in the area.
Former Kgatleng West MP, Mr. Isaac Mabiletsa, voiced concerns about the recently announced party funding, arguing that it would disproportionately benefit the ruling party due to its reliance on the number of MPs.
Meanwhile, other political parties are yet to disclose their candidates for the Kgatleng West constituency.
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