Masisi promises to respect the will of the people
President Mokgweetsi Masisi visited Tshimoyapula, a village in the Serowe South Constituency, for a consultative kgotla meeting with residents, where he addressed their challenges and concerns before making substantial donations to help alleviate poverty in the area.
During the meeting, he urged the community to vote freely, emphasising that elections should not be influenced by intimidation or force. Speaking to the gathered residents, Masisi stressed the importance of freedom in voting.
“Tlhopho ga e betelelwe, ga o tle ka segarigari kana tlhobolo kana matshosetsi a magalenyana,” which translates to, “Elections should not be imposed by force, with guns or threats.'
He encouraged them to vote for the party that they believe would best serve their interests. “Le tlhophe le itse gore se e leng gore se ka le thusa ke eng, e seng monate wa nakwana wa gwara-gwara,' he added, advising residents to vote with the future in mind, not just for short-term pleasures.
Earlier in the day, the President made a significant contribution to the village, donating a bull, 1000 fish, five ewes and a ram, five does and a buck, as well as three colonies of bees. These gifts were meant to help the residents develop sustainable livelihoods and fight the high levels of poverty in Tshimoyapula. Masisi also announced that officials from the Ministry of Agriculture would remain in the village to help locals make the most of these resources.
The visit to Tshimoyapula came after a prior engagement in August during which Masisi donated eight houses to the community. During that visit, the village chief invited him to return and assess the community’s progress. Following the invitation, the President took time to study the village’s situation and recognised the extent of poverty in the area.
He encouraged the residents to take advantage of the various government initiatives designed to improve their lives, assuring them that such programmes would not bind them but instead offer real opportunities for development. 'These initiatives are here to help, not to tie you down,' Masisi said, urging them to embrace the assistance provided.
The President also made a point to reaffirm his commitment to democracy, telling the residents that he would accept the results of the upcoming general elections, regardless of the outcome.
'If my party loses, I will accept the results. You are free to choose the party that aligns with your vision for the future,' he assured them.
Residents of Tshimoyapula expressed their gratitude for the President’s visit and his donations.
Dikgang Motsumi, one of the villagers, thanked Masisi for his gifts and for his international engagements, which Motsumi said have strengthened Botswana’s relations with other nations. “We appreciate your international travels because they have led to stronger ties and new opportunities that help our economy,” Motsumi said.
Another resident, Matsompo Molefi, voiced his appreciation for the road constructed by the government but raised concerns about the littering along the roadside. He explained that the waste poses a danger to their cattle, which often come into contact with harmful materials.
“We are thankful for the road, but we are worried about the litter. Our cattle are getting sick from ingesting this waste,” Molefi said. He requested that toilets be installed along the road to help mitigate the litter problem.