The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Secretary General, Mpho Balopi says for the past 16 months since President Mokgweetsi Masisi ascended the presidency, the country has attracted foreign direct investment worth P3.2 billion.
Launching BDP parliamentary candidate for Tati East constituency, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe and his council candidates in Tati Siding over the weekend, Balopi said through the investment about 7 771 job opportunities were created for Batswana. Balopi who is also the BDP parliamentary hopeful for Gaborone North constituency, showered Masisi with praise saying the head of state is trying hard to create the much needed jobs for Batswana. He took a swipe at the main opposition party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) saying the party promises to create employment opportunities by ploughing industrial hemp.SEE ALSO:
Balopi told the gathering that the Masisi led administration is committed in improving the standard of living of Batswana by attracting foreign investors to come and set up in Botswana. “We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Qatar Airways, for the airline to start operating a route from Doha to Gaborone. This will greatly boost our local tourism sector as the airline will be using big aircrafts such as the A350 that have a huge carrying capacity,” Balopi averred. He stated that opposition activists have been vehemently objecting Masisi’s frequent international trips saying it is a waste of state resources. He continued: “We can all bear testimony that Masisi’s international trips are bearing the desired fruits.”
According to Balopi, Masisi has been holding fruitful engagements with renowned business people such as the Zimbabwean tycoon, Strive Masiyiwa in an effort to lure them to invest locally. “Masiyiwa has promised to invest in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) by installing a fibre cable to homesteads and business premises for internet connectivity. As I speak around 600 youth have already been employed under the project,” he said.SEE ALSO:
For his part, Dr Letsholathebe promised to address the acute shortage of water currently bedevilling the constituents. Letsholathebe who is also a Physics Lecturer at University of Botswana further averred that he will ensure that the issue of shortage of grazing land is addressed if he wins the elections.He will face off Peter Ngoma of the Alliance for Progressives and Mathodi Modisapodi of the main opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change. Interestingly, both Ngoma and Modisapodi defected from the BDP and joined opposition parties.The duo are currently specially elected councillors.