Opposition parties not ready

As the 2019 general elections edge closer, the Jwaneng Mabutsane constituency, one of the most crucial areas in Botswana’s economy, remains open and up for grabs. While other political parties are still working on deciding who their parliamentary candidates will be, the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) Reatile Mephato is surging ahead with preparations. According to spokesperson of the Botswana National Front (BNF) Justin Hunyepa, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is still to field a candidate. The incumbent Member of Parliament Shawn Nthaile lost out to Celsius Rande in the BNF primaries and contested the results. The matter is yet to be concluded, hence the UDC is without a candidate at the moment. Meanwhile the Alliance for Progressives (AP) are still sorting out their vetting processes. This was confirmed by AP’s Secretary General Phenyo Butale in a brief interview with Midweek Sun this week. On the other hand, Reatile of the BDP would not be drawn into discussing his candidacy and an insight into his roadmap for the constituency when contacted this past week, saying he still needs to liaise with his constituency branch. “I agreed with my branch that we need to consult when matters like this arise, so it will not be in order, to update the press on my progress within the constituency without their knowledge,” he said. Nevertheless, in a simple random survey that The Midweek Sun conducted in the area this past week, it emerged that the constituents are unhappy that their every year distresses are not being addressed by the people who they elect into power. Furthermore, most Jwaneng-Mabutsane residents say they no longer find the importance of voting as there has been no change. With a population of 38 335, the constituency consists of 13 wards which include Kgalagadi, Khakhea, Korong-Morwamosu, Mabutsane-Kanaku, Masa-A-Sele, Mogale, Mokomma, Molopo, Ngami, Raphalane, Sekoma, Seole and Sese. One of the voters in the constituency, 27-year old Bishop Gaborone, complained that the presence of Jwaneng Mine in their area was of no help to them as they still remain unemployed despite the load of work at the mine. “It is difficult for us (residents) of the area to get jobs as the mine usually gives out contracts to certain companies and those particular companies would then come with their own people from outside our localities to work there hence putting us at a disadvantage,” he said. Ketlapetswe Terena who hails from Mokhomma ward agonised about their concerns not being addressed. “We always vote hoping that the person we voted for will help us but it is not the case as they usually disappear immediately after being voted. “We have no good roads that we can use when connecting with smaller villages in the constituency and in other places such as Sese, you will find that they can go up to three weeks without water and that is a concern,” said Terena. Violet Tegedi, 24, said they have long applied for youth funds but there has not been any response. “Life is hard here, especially when you did not do well at school. If we resort to finding means of survival, in this case applying for youth funds, it takes too long. We also need electricity, some of the places do not have electricity and it encourages crime,” she said.