We were able to agree on an election pact for the 2009 general elections and went on to contest the elections on the basis of a single manifesto and a common presidential candidate.  We all know that such compromises do not come easily in the field of politics, particularly for parties that had in the past contested elections as separate entities.  In the process of gravitating towards each other, we have had to undertake major compromises.  One party symbol has had to give way to another. Party names that that had been the key identification feature for some of us have had to be deregistered to allow for this union to materialise.  It is not that we attached insignificant importance to our past names and symbols that are not part of our current formation, but rather that we fully appreciate the need to forge together as a singe entity in our pursuit for state power.

It is a great honor for me to be elected to lead our new Party, a Party of true patriots who place the interests of our nation ahead of narrow self fulfilling political interests.  I accept this responsibility with the full knowledge that it is a call to serve my nation.  Whilst some may consider positions of leadership in politics as opportunities for glamour and prestige, a platform for rubbing soldiers with the rich and powerful, I know that the contrary is true.  There is no glamour in opposition politics, particularly in Botswana.  The challenges that we face are many, and one may add that they may be intimidating. There is a huge expectation among Batswana on the future role that the BCP should play in the politics of our country. 

As we stated in the run up to the 2009 general elections, Botswana is a country at a crossroads.  We are at a crossroads because the democratic ideals that have always informed our institutions of governance are under assault.  The basic freedoms that we have over the years internalized as a way of life are fast being eroded.  The need for consultation, which was never negotiated with those who occupied positions of leadership, has been replaced with a new creature called DIRECTIVES.  The privilege of serving the country as a civil servant, knowing that merit and loyalty to the country assured one of progression is no longer guaranteed.  Loyalty to the country has been replaced with loyalty to the President.

Our 2010 election manifesto made a compelling argument about the apparent drift to dictatorship.  So compelling was our case, that we did not only increase our popular vote and representation in Parliament and local authorities, but the message hit at the heart of the BDP.  Those with a conscience within the BDP bought into our manifesto and decamped.  This was a major achievement on our part.  Now that the case has been made with regard to the political threats that we face, our party must also bring to the attention of our people the enormous threats that we face on the economic front.

The challenge facing us today is to lead the country from the crossroads into the future.  In accepting my new role as President of the BCP I want to share with you what my plans for the party are and how I think they can be realised.  My mind is clear; I want to prepare the BCP for its days in government.  We need to move the party into the government enclave at the next elections.  To achieve this, we will need to present a convincing argument that we are indeed ready to govern. 
How do we demonstrate that we are ready to govern?

Alternative laws based on our political principles
We have in the past challenged the BDP and exposed their shortcomings through public debates, party statements such as the democracy alerts as well as issue specific commissions as in the case of the CKGR relocations.  We have on numerous occasions exposed the deficiencies of the BDP sponsored laws, policies and the constitution. 

We have presented alternative policies in areas like tourism, agriculture and education.  We now need to go a step further and present alternative laws that would be put into operation under the BCP government.  With our 5 seats in Parliament, we need to table our laws in Parliament for debate so that the nation can get to understand the sort of government we will form. 

Whether or not such laws are adopted or rejected is immaterial, the nation must know what laws to expect from their next government.  The challenge for our members is to identify the most critical laws that will be a priority for our days in government.  These laws will have to be subjected to maximum scrutiny by our structures so that our members can own them, defend them against BDP operatives who have placed their faith on the Khama directives.  This will also be a way of empowering our members so that they can support our elected representatives at all times on the basis of an agreed agenda.

Very soon, I will have the honor to lead the party debate over the Freedom of Information Law.  This will have to be followed with other laws such as Public Funding of Political Parties, Disclosure of Assets and Liabilities by national leaders, constitutional amendments that our party will present to the Constitutional Review Commission that we will set up as a matter of priority once in government.  Other legislative interventions needed to defend the civil liberties of our people will have to be identified.

Alternative Economic Development Model
Botswana remains a rich country with poor people.  The wealth of our country is concentrated in the hands of very few people.  We have become the world leaders in sharing the wealth of our country in the most unfair manner.  The last income and expenditure survey conducted in Botswana showed that the bottom 50% of the population accounted for about 15% of the national income while the top 50% had access to 85% of national income. 

In terms of the same study, the top 10% of our population are in control of about 45% of the national income.  We must explain to our people that it was never Gods plan that the wealth of this world should be concentrated around a few people whilst many wallow in poverty.

The business opportunities presented by our economy are more accessible to the expatriates than to Batswana.  We are not in charge of our own economy.  Batswana are spectators when it comes to the operations of major business ventures. 

We create the wealth as the workers but derive minimal returns by way of low wages.  Our forefathers who campaigned for the protection of the Protectorate as well as those who campaigned for its independence must be turning in their graves on account of our foreign managed economy.

Our country still has high levels of unemployment. Many of our people who are capable and willing to work are not able to get the opportunity of entering the labour market.  What is even more frustrating is that the problem of unemployment is higher amongst the younger generation, who posses qualifications that have not improved their lives.

Despite the many years of endless speeches pledging diversification, our economy is still heavily depended on minerals, particularly diamonds. The recent credit crunch exposed the extreme vulnerability of our economy.

With all of the above economic challenges, the BDP has failed to present a strategy for overcoming the challenges. They believe that getting the country into debt is a solution for an undiversified economy. They have placed faith on Ipelegeng to address the problems of unemployment and poverty, a scheme that pays below the minimum wage. They have resorted to wasteful expenditure to promote the Presidents pet projects like the Directorate of Intelligence Services.

I have highlighted the above issues because I believe that we have to now focus on developing a robust alternative economic model for Botswana.  A model that will be premised on the need to create wealth for all, open up the job market for Batswana who are more than eager to soil their hands in pursuit of a better life.  We need to present our alternative policies that will allow all Batswana to have a fair chance at life, a chance to be part of the prosperous nation we have been promised by 2016.  Many Batswana do not take pride in being given hand outs for survival.  Our people believe in working for themselves, utilizing their skills to sustain their own livelihood as well as caring for those who are their dependents.

We need an economic model that can accept the workers as a critical partner.  The high levels of unemployment have compromised the security of our workforce.  The large pool of the unemployed provide a reservoir for the employers to abuse their workers with the full knowledge that they can be easily replaced by a desperate worker, who out of desperation will be willing to accept less favorable terms of employment.  The ongoing court cases between government and some of our trade unions are a manifestation of the latent hostility that the BDP government displays towards organized labour.  The trade dispute resolution mechanism in Botswana has collapsed, and workers are at the mercy of their employers.  This state of affairs does not allow for a productive work force that is needed to catapult our economy to greater heights.

 
As already stated above, the youth carry a greater burden of the unemployment curse.  The current development where government has identified new priorities like security has disadvantaged our education system.  It is common knowledge that the quality of our education has been on the decline.  Accessing tertiary education has become more difficult for many young Batswana.  A number of students with good grades from their form 5 examination are heading for the streets as part of the expanding brigade of the unemployed.  This will pose a danger to the future development of our country.  The current interventions offered by the BDP such as constituency football are an insult to the potential possessed by our young people.
We have to embark on the journey of presenting our economic model forthwith.  We already have a strong foundation presented by our 2009 manifesto.  I look forward to joining you in your constituencies in lively debates over the development of an economic model for Botswana, a model that will no doubt be based on our values of fairness, equal opportunities for all and a strong sense of equity.

Revamping and Modernising our Party
Thirdly, as a political Party we will need to rethink the manner in which we conduct our business.  Our performance was pleasing in the last elections, but it was not good enough to get us into government.  We have been in the opposition long enough and cannot plan to remain an opposition Party beyond 2014.  The ideas we have generated over the years on how to create a better country do not count for much if we do not occupy the seat of power.  By 2014, I will have been an opposition MP for 10 years, a record that I can not wish to extend any further.

For our Party to attain state power by 2014 we will need to mobilize many more Batswana to identify with our Party.  There is greater political awareness in Botswana which is accompanied by a mood for change.  The Party will need to explore new avenues of reaching out to the voter.  Our structures will have to be more accessible to people who have no previous record of political participation. We must also be aware that the political landscape has become more competitive.  We are not the newest Party on offer and therefore need to reexamine our appeal to the voter.  The voter has become more demanding and expects a better caliber of representatives.  If we do not respond to the challenges of modern day politics, we will soon lose our relevance and become a Permanent and Pensionable Opposition Party.

We are going to have to engage other opposition parties on the issue of cooperation.  Though this has eluded us in the past, we cannot afford not to try it again.  We are a product of cooperation and have the moral obligation to provide leadership and wise counsel to our colleagues.  The maturity we displayed in handling our merger will have to be replicated in higher doses for the coming elections. 

Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to those who have served in the top office of both the old BCP and BAM.  Comrades Mike Dingake and Motsamai Mpho have refused to retire from active politics.  Gilson Saleshando will be joining our growing pool of the wise veterans and has already indicated his willingness to serve when required.  It is because of their resilience and tenacity that we have come this far.  Their loyalty to the political development of our country is comparable to that of Ruth to her mother in law Naomi in the book Of Ruth Chapter 1.  Let us draw inspiration from their commitment to redouble our efforts.  We need to make sure that we force them into full retirement by  becoming the next government.

Let us go back to our constituencies and tell Batswana that the BCP is well and ready to be entrusted with government.  We need change more than ever before.  The BDP is on a mode of self destruction.  They are infected with a deadly disease comparable to leprosy.  Its structures are falling apart and the centre can no longer hold.  We must not allow the BDP to remain in office any longer as their disease is bound to infect our government.

The BCP is ready to lead the country and remains the most stable party in Botswana.  As in the past, we are ready to face the challenges of the future.  We are ready to embarrass those who undermine our ability to rise to the occasion.  As in 1999 when we were portrayed as spoilers only to emerge with 11% of the popular vote we will emerge victorious.  As in 2004 when we were accused of splitting the opposition vote but went on to attain 16% of the popular vote, our resolve remains as strong. 

Remember also that we were ridiculed by some for our 2009 election pact but came out with 22% of the popular vote.  We have now merged and formed a political party that is ready to govern Botswana.  

I thank you all for your support and wish you a safe journey back home.
*Saleshando is the incoming president of the Botswana Congress Party. This is a speech he delivered at the party Congress in Maun held over the President holidays.