Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi stars in a video launching his party's National Assembly election campaign, which features a small crowd of street protesters. In this short film, he promises to uphold the ban on vegetable imports, mainly from South Africa, until 2025. Botswana is set to hold general elections in October.

President Masisi showcases his acting skills in a two-minute film highlighting his administration's achievements over the past five years, ahead of the general elections in October 2024. His Botswana Democratic Party has been in power since the country gained independence in 1966.

The film serves as an election manifesto, addressing concerns from supposed opposition supporters who believe he has underperformed. It allows him to make future pledges, such as maintaining the ban on vegetable imports from South Africa.

In January 2022, Botswana imposed a two-year ban on vegetable imports, 80% of which came from South Africa. The 16-item list is set for review in July, with additional vegetables expected to be added. In the video, Masisi promises to extend the ban until 2025 while responding to a female demonstrator.

"I will continue reducing it until 2025. You will make money," he said.

He also addresses livestock theft, a significant issue in Botswana, leading to the nationwide Kgomo-Khumo Operation. Responding to a demand for livestock security, Masisi states, "I am protecting livestock. At the moment I have released over 5,000 goats and given them to 950 farmers."

When asked about his efforts to promote cattle farming, Masisi provides statistics on the animals supplied by his government. On infrastructure development, he highlights the widespread availability of the internet, which the World Bank reports is accessible to 73.5% of Botswana.

As the crowd disperses, Masisi remains alone on set and discusses his initiatives for employment creation, youth empowerment, land allocation, and water access. He also mentions how he has controlled electricity prices over the past five years, despite a 22% hike in 2020 to support the then-loss-making Botswana Power Corporation. .

https://twitter.com/i/status/1801102969879834865