03 Apr 2016

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) President, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says the BDP stands tall and proud of the achievements of Botswana.

He added that the BDP’s history of performance as a ruling party was directly linked to that of the nation.

Speaking at the BDP’s 54^th national council in Gaborone on Friday, he said this year’s gathering came at an opportune time a few months prior to Botswana’s 50^th independence celebrations.

He said the developments that were achieved by the country were a result of the planning and vision of their founding fathers.

“Through their foresight and vision, we pursued the principles of democracy, periodic elections every five years, liberal economics, in particular the emphasis of collective ownership of minerals and natural resources aimed at improving the livelihoods of Batswana,” said President Khama.

He noted that the foresight helped Botswana avoid the resource curse and internal conflicts in other countries.

President Khama added that democracy was defined by the necessity to have different political parties play the role of creating choice for voters through alternative policies and providing checks and balances for the ruling party.

However, he said in Botswana the role of opposition parties seems to be just to register that they exist through making false claims. He said for Botswana to be resolute in pursuing a market economy during a period when it was fashionable to be associated with socialism and communism was telling and character building.

President Khama said as the ruling party, they should never take the mandate they were given for granted. “We, the BDP are the architects that designed the tremendous development that have been achieved in building this country in the last 50 years and we are the doctors that cured illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and corruption.”

He added that the history of Botswana was inseparable from that of the BDP, and that the central committee had seen it fit that in tandem with the national celebrations, the BDP should also commemorate the 50 years at the party level.

He said as part of the celebrations, he has proposed that they set up a BDP museum to be commissioned on independence day. Ends