Mokgware confident of his return to Parliament

Retired Major General Pius Mokgware, the former legislator for the Gabane-Mmankgodi constituency, is once again attempting to win the confidence of the electorate to become the representative of his village, Gabane, falling under Mogoditshane West Constituency.This marks Mokgware's third attempt at the seat. He previously won it under the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) in 2014, defeating the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate, Placid Lesedi Mmusi. However, he lost to Kagiso Mmusi, the current Minister of Defence and Security in the subsequent election.Currently serving as the Chairman of the Alliance for Progressives (AP), Mokgware is contesting this time under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). He is optimistic about his chances, stating that his strategy to win over the electorate is based on his observations of the constituency over the past five years and his plans as a candidate.Although Mokgware seems to have prepared well, his challenge may be that he still does not know who his opponent will be, as the ruling BDP has yet to conduct its primary elections. Moreover, the political landscape and dynamics have changed since 2014, when Mokgware contested and won the general election against Mmusi. It is worth noting that his victory was hard-fought. At that time, the Gabane-Mmankgodi constituency had 10 wards.Although the BDP won four of these wards with large margins, the BMD won six. Mmusi was leading until the final votes from Gabane West ward, under Councillor Nkutlwe Pule, were counted.Other councillors who helped Mokgware secure the constituency included Dukes Mafoko, who later defected to the BDP, Ntuka Moumakwa of Gabane East ward, Pele Mothomane of Diagane ward, also known asMogoditshane Block 9, and Boitumelo Botitle of Gabane South. Since then, the constituency has been reduced from 10 wards to eight due to the Delimitation Commission, which relocated the Metsimotlhabe village to a new constituency called Metsimotlhabe–Mmopane.Mokgware now contests with only Moumakwa from his original team. In the new line-up of eight wards, the AP has shared them with the Botswana National Front (BNF), each taking four wards under the UDC banner. Among the eight aspiring candidates, two are women, and the remaining are youths, aside from Mokgware and Moumakwa.Mokgware says his campaign is driven by observations of pressing issues in the constituency, particularly land allocation. He highlights that citizens have been deprived of their rightful land, with the Land Board reversing its own resolutions. This has caused significant distress and suffering for masimo owners who were compensated in kind. In Gabane-Mmankgodi, it is now common to see multiple generations living in the same yard due to these land issues.He also points out that part of Gabane has been renamed Mogoditshane West, suggesting that the constituency should have been named Gabane-Mogoditshane to preserve its historical identity. The current naming could distort the area's history for the next decade. Mokgware argues that the area has been affected by Covid-related corruption, with no accountability for the misappropriation of funds. He believes a strong legislator is needed to address this.Additionally, Gabane-Mmankgodi is facing a severe water shortage, with residents suffering from a lack of access to potable water. Mokgware notes that despite funding being allocated in the National Development Plan and the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) for roads such as the Gaborone-Mmokolodi route, the Gabane-Tloaneng route, and the Tloaneng-Mmankgodi route, these projects have yet to be constructed. Moreover, internal roads and infrastructure in Mmankgodi remain undeveloped, with no plans in place to address these deficiencies.As a parliamentary candidate, Mokgware pledges to tackle these issues, prioritising land rights to ensure each citizen has their own land, thereby reducing overcrowding in family homes. He insists that the Land Board must implement its resolutions and calls for a judicial inquiry into land dealings in Mogoditshane.Mokgware also emphasises the need to investigate Covid corruption cases and hold those responsible accountable. He asserts that access to potable water is a basic right and demands that the government address the water issues in the region.Once elected as the constituency MP, his priority will be advocating for the construction of the aforementioned roads so that constituents can benefit from the country's development.

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Mokgware confident of his return to Parliament