Focus on the Economy
 It is common knowledge that the BCP 2010 manifesto focused on issues of civil liberties, human rights and the need to defend our democracy.  We remain committed to all the pronouncements we have made thus far.  Future focus for the party will be on issues of the economy.  The party will lead a public debate on the need to reconsider our economic model and refine its policies to address the challenges we face.  Issues of job creation, equitable distribution of wealth as well as citizen economic empowerment will be the main concern for the BCP

. Tonota North By-Election
 The BCP has approached BMD, BNF and BPP for cooperation in the Tonota North elections.  The BMD has confirmed that they will not be fielding a candidate for Tonota North and will support the BCP candidate. 

Our secretary general is in touch with the BNF and BPP to secure their support.  The BCP candidate will be launched on August 7 and this will be conducted with the full participation of our cooperating partners. The deputy secretary general of the BCP Motsei Rapelana has been tasked with coordinating the participation of cooperating partners.

Opposition Cooperation for 2014 and Beyond
The Maun Congress renewed the party mandate on cooperation with other opposition parties for the 2014 general elections.  We are of the view that this must be treated as an urgent matter to allow for sufficient time to launch campaigns for 2014 as early as possible.  The executive committee has mandated the Nation Chairperson (Batisani Maswibilili) to be the lead person in negotiations with other opposition parties.  We will in due course announce the team that he will be working with, but we confirm that he will be the lead negotiator.

Policy Development
 The party vice-president, Lepetu Setshwaelo, will be in charge of the policy development unit within the party.Policy development will be one of the priorities for the party as we believe that we are now in a stronger position to challenge for government in the coming elections.  It will be of utmost importance to adopt detailed policy positions in order to confirm our state of readiness to capture state power.

Presentation of Bills in Parliament
 The executive committee has resolved that the party representatives in Parliament should be assisted to present bills on issues of national interest.  This is consistent with the development of policies that are geared at presenting the alternatives to the BDP sponsored laws.  The following bills have been identified as priority:

. Bill on Freedom of Information
. Bill on Insider Trading
. Bill on Citizen Economic Empowerment
. Bill on Public Funding of Political  Parties

We have also decided to draft our ideal law on disclosure of assets and liabilities by national leaders.  We expect the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration to present the bill on disclosure and the party would like to highlight the key aspects that such a law must entail.  This is meant to guard against the promulgation of an ineffective law, given the BDP's known reluctance to have such a law in place.

* SALESHANDO is the president of the Botswana Congress Party. He delivered this speech in a press conference yesterday at the BNPC in Gaborone