Saleshando hands over Maun West baton to Hikuama
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday August 20, 2024 11:11
In a bid to win in the upcoming general election, the BCP aims for all seven North West constituencies. Saleshando invaded Maun West one more time on Sunday to inform the constituents that they could trust Hikuama with their vote come October. After the delimitation commission increased Maun constituencies from two to three, the BCP leader said he was confident that the only man who could help the party retain the constituency was Hikuama. Saleshando, a former Gaborone Central legislator who switched to Maun West in 2019 after his party joined the UDC, is now moving again to Maun North. However, this time around he doesn't have to go far.
“If there is an MP I can freely speak about is Hikuama because we first crossed paths during our youthful days at the University of Botswana. I learnt his politics and he studied mine. “Our politics were intertwined and were focussed on the fact that we cannot be silent when things aren't going well,” he said when launching Hikuama in Maun West on Sunday. Saleshando also revealed that he, alongside Hikuama, were part of the students who protested at Parliament during the infamous Segametsi Mogomotsi murder case in Mochudi. He said Hikuama couldn’t continue with his teaching profession when Ngami was still under the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). “Even as a teacher, he was fighting for the rights of others. He takes his job seriously and he isn't to be easily intimidated,” he said. Saleshando told Maun West constituents that it was important to vote for Hikuama as the BCP aims to ‘save Botswana’ in the upcoming polls.
For his part, aspirant Maun West MP Hikuama said he is an MP who represents all of Ngamiland and is even more confident since the BCP entrusted him with the responsibility of moving from Ngami to Maun West. “My problem with you is when you love the BDP that doesn’t love you back,” he told the residents. He thanked Maun West for believing that he was the rightful messenger to retain the constituency for the lime movement. “I have accepted this task with open arms,” he said. Hikuama said the intention in October isn't to increase BCP MPs but to win government. Hikuama said initially he intended not to contest again but he later changed his mind.
“I will not rest until we remove the BDP government. After we win I can happily retire but at the moment there is no time for sleep,” he emphasised. In 2019, the incumbent Ngami MP Hikuama managed to snatch the constituency from BDP’s Thato Kwerepe but now he has to retain Maun West which was won by Saleshando. As Hikuama switches to Maun West, he leaves Ngami in the hands of Phillimon Aaron who secured the candidacy for the constituency in the BCP primaries last year. Aaron was launched earlier this year in Gumare and has a track record in the tourism sector and is regarded as the true son of the soil.