09 Oct 2019

The launch of the abridged braille manifesto by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been described as the beginning of a new partnership with people living with disabilities (PWDs).

Launching the abridged braille manifesto in Gaborone on Tuesday, Vice President and the BDP chairperson, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the BDP desired to have an inclusive manifesto for all people from all walks of life.

He said the move was in line with the party’s election manifesto theme of advancing together towards a more inclusive economy.

“There is a need to hear what BDP has for these people. Sign language should be inclusive, it is a universal language that cuts across the linguistic divide.

The universal language must unite humanity, it is a global language that must be understood by all to make life easier,” he added.

Mr Tsogwane said the launch of this version of the manifesto, which was a first in Botswana, was meant to advance human rights, which were premised on everyone having the right to freedom of information.

“People understand our message and principle. The BDP manifesto is lucid, and that means it is clear, easier to understand,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane said the BDP  message, through the manifesto, was a consultative piece of writing that also offered renewed hope.

The BDP chairperson said his party desired insurance of the macroeconomic stability, good governance and accountability in all that they did.

“We don’t want to make empty pronouncements, it is all about priorities and making proper budgets. We must be sensible and aware of what we are dreaming,” he said.

For his part, BDP secretary-general Mr Mpho Balopi announced that his party had become the latest member of the Socialist International, a London based organisation that sought to establish democratic socialism around the world.

He said the party was accepted as the seventh member of the organisation in southern Africa in a meeting held in Zimbabwe recently.

He said BDP’s new membership was an indication of a party that adhered to core democratic principles such as political stability.

He said the party would send some of its cadres to the Julius Mwalimu Nyerere University of leadership for further training on political administration.

Ms Shirley Keoagile from the Botswana Association of the Deaf said she was grateful for the BDP’s gesture to people living with disabilities (PWDs).

“There’s still more that we could do as a country. The message from political parties still remains a challenge for PWDs. I have worked with the African Union and discussed these challenges.

The PWDs are still not well represented in the political sphere and I plead with politicians to make an effort,” she said.

Ms Keoagile said Botswana’s disability policy was still lacking and pleaded with the political leadership to ratify the Convention of PWD’s and implement it.

Former Member of Parliament for Letlhakeng/Lephephe Mr Liakat Kablay delivered an inspirational message as a person living with a disability.

He said despite the physical limitations of PWDs, there was still more to do for the country.

He said PWDs were a priority in the BDP-led government and promised that when voted back into Parliament he would spearhead the passing of the PWDs policy.

Meanwhile, BDP chairperson Mr Tsogwane welcomed new members to the BDP fold. ENDS