BCP accuses UDC of power grab, not a solution
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 1, 2025 06:00
On 25 August 2025, President Boko invoked Section 17(1) of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency, citing the need to “make decisions quickly to address the immediate medical needs of the nation.” However, according to BCP publicity and information secretary, Mpho Pheko, the declaration is “neither justified nor necessary.” She stated that the existing Public Procurement Regulations of 2023 already offer sufficient flexibility for the swift and accountable purchase of medical supplies. “The shortages in our hospitals are not the result of procurement red tape,” said Pheko. “They are the direct result of poor leadership, systemic corruption, and deliberate inaction by the UDC government.”
She noted that from as early as October 2024, it was evident that Botswana’s public health system was on the verge of collapse.
Despite repeated warnings from health professionals and the opposition, the UDC government did nothing to respond for nine consecutive months.
“Instead of increasing health budgets or addressing the leadership crisis in the sector, the government focused on unsustainable pledges, inflated executive perks, cadre deployment, and awarding tenders to cronies,” Pheko said. “Now, faced with the consequences of its own failure, the President has chosen to sidestep accountability by declaring a state of emergency and giving himself broad powers to access funds at will.”
The BCP also raised alarm over the suspension of Section 34 of the Retirement Funds Act, which Pheko said exists specifically to safeguard workers’ pensions. “With its suspension, the government can now access and redirect pension savings without conducting actuarial tests, assessing liabilities, or ensuring long-term solvency. This puts the hard-earned retirement security of workers at serious risk,” she warned. Pheko further criticised the suspension of citizen economic empowerment clauses in procurement processes, arguing that the current regulations already allow for fast, accountable procurement in times of need.
She pointed out that the government had other viable options to resolve the health supply crisis without invoking emergency powers.
“If the UDC was serious about transparency and urgency, it could have partnered with global agencies such as UNFPA and UNICEF, who already have experience procuring essential health commodities quickly, transparently, and cost-effectively,” she said. While the BCP acknowledged recent efforts to restock clinics and hospitals, Pheko insisted that Botswana’s health crisis cannot be solved through shortcuts or Executive overreach.
“What we need is comprehensive sector reform, competent leadership, and collaboration with credible international partners. Declaring an emergency without fixing the underlying problems is just political theatre,” she said. The BCP is urging President Boko to appoint a capable and qualified Minister of Health, one with the experience and authority to lead systemic reform in the sector.
“Real solutions require honest leadership, not reckless power grabs,” said Pheko.