UDC auctioned Mahalapye East- Saleshando
President of the Botswana Congress Party Dumelang Saleshando has accused Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) of auctioning Mahalapye East Constituency.
According to Saleshando people of Mahalapye East are currently left without a Member of Parliament currently because of the UDC and its leadership. Mahalapye East has no MP following the resignation of Yandani Boko who wrestled the constituency from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Saleshando who was launching the BCP Parliamentary candidate said this is sad because the constituents have been left in the lurch during a crucial time when the Constitutional amendment Bill has been brought before Parliament for debate. He argued that the constituents will not have a voice to represent them when this critical Bill is being debated and MPs bring forward concerns of their constituents.
Saleshando told the rally that the UDC leader Advocate Duma Boko is the first opposition leader to praise Mokgweetsi Masisi as the incoming President into the highest office in the land.
“He is on recording celebrating the incoming into office by Masisi. All that you currently hear is afterthought. The next thing they tell you that it is me who is dining with the BDP. Do you think Masisi could remain mum and not
bring forward proof that I am with them when I have all along been exposing them?”
The BCP leader pointed out that his party is the only one ready for the 2024 general election. This, he said, is a clear indication that the BCP takes Batswana seriously.
“We are the only party that is ready. We are done with our primaries and manifesto, and now launching candidates. The others have done nothing. Others are busy talking about decent jobs.
“That manifesto is for 2019 general elections and not 2024. This is a clear indication that whenever BCP is present such a marriage is a stable one as we witnessed in the past including in 2019,” he told the gathering.
Saleshando who is also MP for Maun West said peddling lies has been the order of the day among political leaders. He said it has been made fashionable so much that it has taken the leaders including heads of state to greater heights.
“In his five (5) years President Masisi has not fulfilled any of his 2019 promises. He spoke about the electric car, teaching of Swahili, finding a market for small stock. None of that has happened. This is the dishonesty of the highest order”.
According to Saleshando Presidents select countries that they want to work with closely during their term in office. The choice, he said, is informed by many factors, the common thread being national interest.
“I remember reading a book by Frank Chikane who served as Director General (Presidency) under Thabo Mbeki and the difficult decision that had to be made as to which country President Mbeki was to visit first, following his inauguration.
“If a President prioritises a nation that does not embody the values that his nation upholds, there will be a gradual shift to the values of the friend that the President has chosen,” he stated.
He said under President Masisi the country has chosen to strengthen ties with a rogue state, a state that has chosen to look down on all principles of good governance, a government that has elevated electoral fraud to dizzying heights, a leadership that is quick to terrorise its own people if they don’t align with the ruling party.
A country transformed by the ruling elite from a regional breadbasket to a leading regional case study of a failed state, he said. According to the BCP leader the Botswana Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), taking a cue from the President, has found a new friend in Zimbabwe called Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Saleshando said that ZEC are the undisputed champions of electoral theft within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), adding that many Zimbabweans have lost hope of change through the ballot on account of ZEC.