10 Jul 2019

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairperson, Mr Slumber Tsogwane, says the party intends to bring all on board in its mission to transform the economy into a knowledge-based one.

Speaking at a press briefing in Gaborone on July 9, Mr Tsogwane said the nation would witness a huge economic transformation under the leadership of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi come the next budget session.

Mr Tsogwane, also the country’s Vice President, said the changes that would be brought by the said transformation would shock the people and they would ask themselves questions as to what happened.

“So, don’t allow yourself to remain behind,” he cautioned.

He advised that no one should be left behind during the transformation period, hence BDP’s inclusive manifesto.

Furthermore, he said all Batswana would benefit from the transformed economy.

Mr Tsogwane noted that economic empowerment law was underway to strengthen Batswana stake in the country’s economy. The bill, he said, was important, adding that when President Masisi assumed power, joining hands with other countries to fight corruption was among “his to do list.”

Corruption, he said, had affected a lot of African countries, hence the signing of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an economic development programme of the African Union.

According to the African Union, APRM was used for sharing experiences, reinforcing best practices, identifying deficiencies and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.

The APRM review process gave member states a space for national dialogue on governance and socio-economic indicators and an opportunity to build consensus on the way forward.

Regarding PEMANDU report, he said people should not confuse the purpose of the report to the April salary increment of civil servants.

Meanwhile, the BDP secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi, said his party survived on membership fees, contributions and sponsorship.

He refuted recent reports that they had gone to China to collect millions of pula as untrue, adding that the delegation was sent on a benchmarking mission.

”We believe that all contemporary political ideologies must aim at improving human life. For instance, we garnered good lessons on China’s poverty alleviation drive,” he said. ENDS