02 Oct 2024

Botswana Congress Party intends to improve the lives of Batswana through a high-wage economy that works for all.

This will be anchored on a good democratic governance as its central value proposition.

This came to the fore during the launch of the party’s 2024 seven-point election manifesto dubbed ‘A better tomorrow awaits us.’

The BCP claims, in its manifesto, that due to the failure by the current government to invest in critical areas as children, youth and women, and universal high speed internet, the party responded with the seven-point manifesto.

The party proposes a climate-sensitive high-wage economy that works for all across generations, equitable access to land and housing, standards-based fourth industrial revolution education to produce globally competitive human capital.

The manifesto also holds that the party proposes a universally good and accessible health system, meeting the development needs of children, the youth and women, building an efficient and effective social protection and building a robust culture of good democratic governance as the foundation for development.

Speaking during the launch of the manifesto, BCP president, Mr Dumelang Saleshando dubbed the document a social contract with the electorate.
In the contract, he said, were 10 commandments like the Biblical ones Moses received from God at Mount Sinai, Egypt, that needed be obeyed at all times.

“The BCP’s manifesto talks to you the unemployed youth that thou shall work,” said Mr Saleshando as the first commandment.

For the unemployed to work as per the first commandment, the BCP president explained that his party-run economy will generate 300 000 jobs while in the process sustaining a living wage of P4 000 per month by 2029.

This, it is said, will get every household a job by 2029 and help eradicate abject poverty.

Moreover, the BCP, in their key promises, commits to, amongst other things reclaiming exported jobs through movement up value chains while also redefining the tourism product to maximize and domesticate value.

The party, founded in 1998, also promises, inter alia, free and compulsory education from preschool to secondary level, regulation of school fees to restrain excessive profiteering and expand access to private education.

At the same event they launched parliamentary candidate for Bobirwa constituency, Mr Taolo Lucas and his 12 council hopefuls. Mr Saleshando lauded his vice, who, over and above a trusted leader, was said to epitomise patience and loyalty to the cause of the BCP.

“He exemplifies the Setswana saying moseka phofu ya gaabo ga swe lentswe”, Mr Saleshando of Mr Lucas who stood for elections and was defeated in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections without ceasing on the course of winning the Bobirwa seat for his party.

Described as a trustworthy leader, the Mr Lucas    is said to be a cog in the BCP machinery that seeks to attain state power. Consequently, the electorate was called on to sweep the boards in favour of Mr Lucas and his council candidates.

Mr Lucas, who said he chose to become a social worker to advance for the rights and needs of the people, appealed to the BCP faithful to reverberate his plea for a return to parliament across the constituency.

He said that he had committed to advocating for the poor and the underemployed amongst others who are facing financial difficulties.

“If you’re earning slavery wages, if you depend on Ipelegeng, if you don’t have a plot vote for the BCP because in us you have a natural ally,” Mr Lucas said. Ends