"All these years Batswana have been reluctant on regime change all because of just a fear for the unknown, and now that they found the strength to change, it is upon us as the UDC to instill trust in them that the act was not suicidal."

"Mmatli is ruining our chances of winning."

"Mmatli is just being a joke."

"I will face him as Mokoko."

"The rest are empty, with no beds or equipment. There’s a severe shortage of staff and specialists, forcing patients to travel to Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone at great expense."

"Every year, they told us the problem would be fixed by year-end, but nothing changed."

"Residents are forced to buy water from bowsers or collect it from leaking pipes."

"He rarely addressed ward meetings, preferring to announce government projects at the main kgotla. He even claimed he was an MP for the whole country, not just Bakwena."

"He misrepresented Bakwena by claiming every household had a portrait of Masisi. I’ve never seen one in my sisters’ homes."

"Morwaeng was invisible during this tragedy. He skipped the memorial service in Molepolole to attend one in Gaborone, further hurting the bereaved families."

"If Bakwena vote me out in 2029, I’d accept it – but not if they bring back Morwaeng."

"I was surprised that when a party chairman summons a member, he does not take his orders."

"I can't resign when I have made so many strides in the constituency. I can't dump so many BDP members who have voted for me. I want to dispel the notion that I was challenging the party chairman. I was contesting to enhance democracy. Democracy encourages competition."

"In order to diversify the economy and create sustainable jobs, government must strive to make agriculture more productive and appealing to the youth."

"It is worrisome that no project under the Transition National Development Plan is carried out in the Thamaga/Kumakwane constituency."

"I call on all of us individually and collectively to support women and girls particularly those who want to pursue politics as their career, use International Women's Day as an opportunity to invest in women, celebrate their achievements and accelerate progress towards a more just and equal world."

"It offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made on the call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities."

"We meet here not out of routine."

"We gather because the impact of climate change is neither abstract nor remote. It is immediate, it is devastating, and it is disproportionately borne by the most vulnerable among us, our children."

"Let me be abundantly clear: climate change is a children’s rights crisis."

"Protocols are only as powerful as the political will behind them."

"Let us enshrine in our laws the right of every child to grow up in a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment."

"Let us ensure that the voices of children – often spoken about but rarely spoken with – are central to decision-making processes on climate policy."

"Legislation is where intention becomes obligation."

"Let this be the moment where the SADC region boldly declares, ‘Our climate agenda will not ignore our children."

"Let this be the moment where we rise as a regional bloc, not just to adapt, but to protect, to empower, and to secure the promise of tomorrow through the actions of today."

"The requested amount will cater for personnel emoluments and other operational expenses which include among others, maintenance of the existing infrastructure, research and investigation, human capital development, operationalis ation of the Military Veterans Unit and office rental."

"The amount will cater for salaries and allowances, replacement and maintenance of vehicles, creation of additional 1 000 positions and other related costs in enhancing law enforcement."

"From the requested amount, P65.3 million is to cover for implementation of on-going projects which include acquisition of staff houses, introduction of case management, communication equipment as well as installation of standby generators at various prisons and consultancy on the establishment of prison air wing."

"It should be appreciated that both the Botswana Defence Force and the Botswana Police Service exist to provide security to the lives and property of the people of Botswana."

"They are both therefore at the disposal of government to deploy as found necessary to address any threat to the safety of Batswana."

"The recent spate of cash in transit where criminals use weapons of war, the systematic poaching challenge, trans-national crimes together with the threat of terrorism are some of the manifestations which (have) compelled joint efforts between all security agencies."

"It is extended to complement civil authorities when the resources are stretched by abnormal circumstances such as spike in certain crimes, (especially) armed robberies."

"Military aid to civil powers is a common practice in almost all countries, including the developed countries."

"If you cannot love yourself there is no way you can be able to love the next person hence we still see men as perpetrators of GBV. Love should start within before sharing it with others."

"They are not convinced that the BDF will play any significant role in protecting them from pandemics."

"As a defence force, you are expected to be disciplined and assist in fighting such crimes."

"I instruct that it must be the last I see what I saw yesterday. You must do everything you can to eliminate those who do this, in whatever form."

"Our issue was that we must always be on our toes. Let every police and security agent see to it that criminals are plucked from amongst us and are condemned where they will spend time."

"I am aware that violent crime appears to be on the rise and indeed there has been an increase in murder, rape, robbery and defilement."

"Government is against the idea of proliferation of arms in our society and we believe that trained people, being police and other agencies, must be allowed to have them. For now, we don’t have any ideas to allow a laissez faire gun culture."

"Opposition parties will not take over a government while divided. Batswana need united opposition parties. I don’t think it will be wise for any party to move out of the UDC. What is very important is for all the two parties to agree to involve a neutral mediator to help them solve their differences within the UDC. They all need to swallow their pride and look at the bigger picture"

"We don’t have to focus only on foreign direct investment. Domestic investors also have the potential to grow this economy and create job opportunities."

"We have started to till the land."

"ur area has a serious problem of Land shortage and land servicing. There was a stampede in 2008 in Tlokweng and another stampede in 2013 in Ramotswa, this is really affecting our constituents and the land board has to adopt technological measures to address this situation. People should start applying online and be given online reference numbers for follow up . On the part of allocation I appeal to fellow councilors to consider the quota system as a way of protecting and preserving the culture of Bamalete and Batlokwa."

"Are they not enjoying the country's riches?"

"They [opposition leaders] just want to badmouth the party."

"Let us come together more than we ever did bearing in mind that we aim to win the upcoming elections. Remember, our party has quite a large following, but if we waste time influencing or fuelling unnecessary fights internally, we would have given the opposition ammunition to oust us."

"I must admit that I am aware of a couple of errors which led to unease within our party as a result of matters which many feel were not appropriately handled by our leadership. It is true that there had been pressing issues where some people were seriously affected. This happens and is experienced everywhere. However, going forward let us unite even more and all agree that in the future we will not see a repetition of what was encountered by some of us."

"Balopi ke yo, are a re yeng kwa mewa yarona e tla bonang boikhutso teng."