The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is yet to hold primaries and approve its candidate. Therefore the conclusion is that the opposition will be represented by Botswana People’s Party’s Richard Gudu under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Congress Party’s Dr Philip Bulawa.
After losing by 806 votes to Charles Tibone in 2004, Gudu vows to turn the tide this time around as he launches a spirited fight to dislodge the BDP which he blames for stagnated development since the creation of the constituency following the 2001 delimitation. For him, it is a do or die contest.
In a wide ranging interview, Gudu minced no words in denouncing Tibone’s two parliamentary terms as the worst ever, adding that Tibone has been a dismal failure despite his good showing against Robert Muzila in the BDP’s past two primaries.
He said the few noticeable developments in the North East District were undertaken during the late Chapson Butale’s term. Butale relocated to the Tati East constituency where he lost to incumbent Samson Moyo Guma after the 2001 delimitation that delineated the district into two constituencies.
“In the two terms that Tibone has been area MP, development has completely stalled. It is only now towards the end of his second term that Masunga/Sebina road is being resealed. Tibone has failed to represent the aspirations and needs of the people of Tati West as well as the entire North East District. He slept on the job while other areas were being developed. He has done absolutely nothing. There are only two notable developments in his tenure ÔÇô Masunga bus rank and Masunga/ Sebina road resealing. Tibone has been a terrible disaster as a people’s representative. A lot of democrats are regretting why they voted him,” said Gudu.
He explained that had the constituency a capable representative, junior secondary schools like Maenjane in Sekakangwe, Pelaelo in Makaleng and Maruje in Masunga would have been provided with boarding facilities because they cater for a lot of students who walk long distances (7 to 10 kilometres) to and from school.
Maenjane caters for the villages of Sekakangwe, Mbalambi and Kalakamati while Pelaelo caters for the villages of Botalaote, Toteng, Makaleng, Matenge, Gulubane, Mambo, Sechele and Gulubane. As for Maruje, it enrols students from the villages of Vukwi, Letsholathebe, Mosojane, Gambule and Mulambakwena.
In Gudu’s view, there is no justification why boarding facilities have not been constructed in these schools to spare the students the trouble of walking such long distances as that has greatly affected their academic performance.
Gudu laments that despite the North East being a fully fledged district, it has no fire station and relies on the City of Francistown which has its own challenges and is tens of kilometers away.
He further bemoans the fact that in spite of inclusion in the past National Development Plans, there are no indications that Tshesebe/Mosojane/Mulambakwena will ever be tarred in the near future. He attributes the failure to Tibone’s poor representation.
Gudu further explains that initially the excuse advanced by government for not tarring the road was that funds allocated for the project had been diverted to the HIV/AIDS. During Tibone’s second term, it shifted to economic recession.
The other thorny issue that Gudu feels the present MP has failed to address is the acute land shortage in the district as the majority of the land is owned by Tati Company and a few individual freehold land holders.
“There is no grazing, ploughing as well as residential land. The waiting list for residential plots applications by far exceeds 20 000. Residential plot allocations at villages like Masunga, Tati Siding, Mabudzane and Matshelagabedi have been indefinitely suspended. Only God knows when the allocations will resume. Government is buying freehold farms for millions of Pula from owners whose possession is highly questionable. The farms are just barren land without any developments. The owners can’t even show how much they spent on developing the farms yet government is busy plundering national funds paying compensation,” said Gudu.
He said that the land problem is a national issue that needs a caring government committed to resolving it urgently because it is a time bomb that is about to explode.
He lambasts the BDP government’s failure to address the land shortage issue explaining that vast tracts of land in places like Francistown are owned by foreigners at the expense of indigenous Batswana who have been unfairly and unjustifiably deprived.
“Land belongs to the people hence our slogan at BPP of Shango. Every citizen must be afforded a residential plot. We at the UDC agitate for an urgent land audit. If this issue is not urgently addressed, it will culminate in a war between land owners and deprived citizens. It is depressing that Batswana do not have land while vast tracts are owned by people who are not even resident in the country,” said Gudu adding that once voted to parliament, he would push for laws to compel land barons to relinquish some of their land for redistribution to the marginalized poor.
The other issue of concern to Gudu is the constitution that he says is outdated and discriminatory against other tribes that are classified as minor tribes. “The constitution is not tribally neutral.
Balopi Commission tried to address the issue but BDP government has refused to implement its recommendations. The eight principal tribes have been retained. Can we say any changes have been effected if other tribes have notbeen constitutional recognition? The only change is from House of Chiefs to Ntlo ya Dikgosi. It is high time that a holistic review of the constitution is undertaken,” said Gudu maintaining that when the constitution was drafted, Batswana were not consulted and the constitution was as such imposed.
To Gudu, the language issue is related to the constitution. He decries that government is spending millions promoting only two languages – English and Setswana that are used on the national radio, television and in schools at the expense of other indigenous languages.
He said at a recent kgotla meeting in Masunga, President Ian Khama when asked when Ikalanga would be taught in schools, said the language is complicated with no qualified teachers to teach it.
“The following week, Education Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi told BaSubiya in Satau that government was in the process of employing retired teachers to teach SeSubiya. What a contradiction by people in the same government? Can they be said to be serious? The answer is a big NO. All languages must be taught in schools in addition to their use on the national radio and television.
Language is a fundamental human right that must never be treated as a favour. Khama wants people to believe that he is passionate about culture yet his government discriminates against other cultures obtaining in the country. How do you promote one’s culture without promoting his language? How do you separate the two? Where is their dignity when you are killing their language?” asked Gudu rhetorically.
Once voted to parliament, Gudu promises to tackle the problem of rural unemployment which he attributes to lack of infrastructural development. He said infrastructural development is a prerequisite for employment creation and poverty alleviation adding that once structures are in place, they will create permanent jobs by way of maintenance.
He lambasted the BDP government for failing to consult the people on their problems, needs and aspirations. “The issues I intend to bring to parliament are those that concern the people. As a people’s representative, I will seek their views to take parliament. I will also give them feedback on what happens in parliament. Consultation is key. It must be noted that as a people’s representative, you represent people’s wishes. There is need for continuous feedback and evaluation of whether government programmes are benefitting the intended beneficiaries. In life, there is nobody who is clever than others. That’s why I will have to solicit people’s views in order to deliver on their aspirations. That is what I vouch to do once elected to parliament,” said Gudu.
As much as he fancies his chances of dislodging the BDP, he is nonetheless worried over the imminent opposition vote split that will culminate from the BCP withdrawal from the umbrella project.
“I am very much aware of it. I think the BCP is equally concerned. It is unfortunate that the BCP pulled out of the umbrella project. We however will leave the issue to the voters as they have the final say. The voters will pronounce their own judgment. I am extremely disappointed that the BCP pulled out because the pullout has the potential to give the BDP a new lease of life. The BDP will be smiling all the way to the elections because we failed to unite,” said Gudu adding that he does not think it is too late for the opposition to cooperate in some constituencies ahead of the general election.
“Differences will always be there but they should be weighed against national aspirations. Batswana want a united opposition that will unseat the BDP. The BDP has dismally failed this country. Tati West fares among the worst. Since Khama ascended to the presidency, power has been centralized with the local authorities having been stripped off their erstwhile power. The gravel roads that were under the council have become worse. The entire road network in Tati West is terrible. The same applies to the health system which is plagued by terrible shortage of medicines. Water connections are very slow and water bills are extremely high. The poor, without stand pipes don’t have access to potable water which is a fundamental human right,” said Gudu.
He also lambasted the ruling government on its failure to empower citizens who have been relegated to the sidelines of economic development in their own country.
Gudu in conclusion maintains the need for political party funding because it is expensive for politicians to finance the country’s democracy from their own resources. To this end he is advocates for electoral reforms that will enhance the country’s democracy and make it in sync with modern democratic dispensations the world over.
“If Batswana won’t vote the BDP out in 2014, they must then brace for the worst to come. The BDP government doesn’t care for the welfare of the workers and thinks the solution lies in the provision of social security nets”.
