Battle of titans looms in Mogoditshane
The candidates are poised. The scene is Mogoditshane constituency. The battle is for the hearts and minds of the 57 637 souls in the constituency that boasts 10 wards - Ledumadumane East, Ledumadumane West, Mogoditshane Central, Mogoditshane Central North, Mogoditshane Central South, Mogoditshane East, Mogoditshane North, Nkoyaphiri Central, Nkoyaphiri North and Nkoyaphiri South. The incumbent Member of Parliament is Sedirwa Kgoroba of the Alliance for Progressives (AP). On the Umbrella for Democratic Change corner stands Bruce Nkgakile while McDonald ‘Chilliboy’ Rakgare represents the ruling Botswana Democratic Party after beating Patrick Masimolole at the weekend primaries. Meantime, Tshepang Mabaila who was recently suspended from the BDP will run as an independent candidate (Mokoko). In the 2014 general election Sedirwa Kgoroba emerged victorious with 4180 votes for UDC and was followed by Rakgare’s 3846 votes for Botswana Congress Party while Masimolole was voted for by 3786 people. UDC candidate Nkgakile told The Midweek Sun this week he is confidentof victory since the constituency wants “young and fresh minds”at the helm. He is ready to address the challenges of youth such as crime, lack of land and access to Government programmes likeYoung Farmers Fund (YDF). For his part the independent candidate, Mabaila says he will tackle minimum wage issue as well as income disparaties in the country. He is also saddened by the dispossession of plots that residents suffer as a result of the mushrooming of import car garages. BDP’s Rakgare will fix his campaign on the party’s manifesto to advocate for the people’s needs, which will include land, education, health and unemployment.As for MP Kgoroba he is banking on his acheievements during the past tenure to return him to parliament. He cites Ledumadumane ward, where he fought government against relocating residents. Initiatives in the pipeline include a development trust through which developments will be channelled. WHAT THE CONSTITUENTS SAID… Motsholathebe Selaki, 55, has registered to vote but has some concerns. “I am resident of Mogoditshane and I have not seen any developments in our area through the years, we always have problems when there are heavy rains as the water stops in our yards and make life difficult for us.” Neo Motlhabane, 57, thinks none of the candidates can lead the constituency as there have been so many issues that have not been addressed over the years. “Our children have not been given land which was promised through some programmes” she lamented. Onkarabile Thatayaone, 33, is aggrieved by services at the Nkoyaphiri clinic. “There are no doctors when we need help. I am going to vote for someone that listens to our concerns,” said Thatayaone. Other residents interviewed said they did not register for the elections because they don’t see their importance.