UDC should review, revise promises – Dow
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday March 3, 2025 13:03
Responding to a budget speech in Parliament this week, the MP said it remains unclear how the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)'s recurrent budget will differ from that of former President, Mokgweetsi Masisi's administration. Dow further noted the inconsistency in the promises made by the UDC, highlighting a lack of clarity on their exact commitments. Additionally, she urged the UDC government to carefully reconsider the numerous promises they made, review them thoroughly, and present a finalised package.
Dow emphasised that it is essential for the UDC to reassess its promises and come forward with a comprehensive 'governing manifesto'. She further stressed that promises must either be fulfilled or, if not possible, be accompanied by clear explanations as to why they cannot be kept. “The Human rights approach to government: How will this approach be reflected in the policies, programmes, projects, and structures informing the 2025/26 budget? How will this approach inform the budget? What are the current human rights issues in this country? This has to be explained,” Dow further told Parliament. She said there is a need for the Minister of Finance to explain high earners. Moreover, the MP said with the human rights approach being the central pillar of the UDC government, much can be expected in the area of gender equality. Dow said they had expected to see the approach reflected in the budget when the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs presents her budget.
She, however, said Batswana appreciate and agree that there must be due process before findings of corruption and abuse of office against anyone. 'But Batswana are perplexed at the utter silence and inaction even in cases where our courts have made clear and unambiguous findings against certain individuals. How can the current government explain their inaction? Why do these individuals continue to enjoy the same level of protection and favour as before?” she pointed out. She said the first thing that a corrupt intelligence network does when a new government comes into power is to bug everyone they deem a danger to their ingratiation to the leadership and then proceed to feed the leadership with gossip, misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and fabrications. “I encourage you, the doubter to recall the drama of 2022, when fabrications, fraud, and fake news were the order of the day. Beware of clips of conversations shared as national security intelligence! Ditshebo ga di age motse!,” Dow revealed.