New ideal for a new society Nehemiah Modubule
Correspondent | Friday February 14, 2014 16:28
Allow me at this juncture to echo the sentiments made by Leader of the Opposition Hon. Dumelang Saleshando that it is indeed disappointing to have had Hon. Hobona being sown in as a new member of Parliament without the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana. To add salt to injury the President is said to have been waiting at the Speakers office for the ceremony to pass before he came in. This is political intolerance of the first order and must be condemned in the strongest words possible. This is unacceptable in a democracy such as ours.
Economic outlook
The domestic economy has experienced some depressing developments and because of that we believe that if we do not act in a positive way by coming up with stimulus package the economy looks fragile as we continue to over rely on diamonds whose market is volatile. The over reliance on diamonds is putting Botswana in a very precarious situation for the sale of diamonds depend on the demand by foreign markets and therefore what ever happens to those markets affect our sales and our revenue.
It is true that our other major revenue outlet, that is, Customs and Excise under the SACU arrangement is facing serious challenges as we hear that South Africa is planning to leave the organisation. If that were to happen then this country is faced with a mammoth task of funding its projects. The future of this country needs a vibrant and energetic government not the one we have now. These challenges cannot be handled by a party which no longer has regard for workers welfare.
What went wrong at Morupule B Power Station? The minister should tell the nation as to what went wrong and why no one can be held accountable. Why was the Chinese Government not listened to at the inception of the project? Why should taxpayers continue to fund this project since indications are clear that someone did not do his/her homework? Botswana Power Corporation is running huge losses because of failure by those who were supposed to have taken appropriate actions. We need to be informed on the extent to which the impact on the delay had in the economy. The economic future of Botswana under this regime is doubtful, as diversifying the economy is a great challenge to them. Corruption in this republic has grown to unprecedented levels and the bad thing about it is that it is entrenched in the system and therefore not easy to detect.
The UDC realises that the roots of corruption are the ideals of a society and that the ideals of a society are a reflection of its economic life. The economic life of Botswana is based on the ownership of wealth, ownership of status, worship of money as the means to personal power, unhealthy competition and individualism, hence we cannot avoid corruption. We therefore need radical change in the economy and radical change in education in order to come up with ideals of a new society, one that does not rely on the worship of wealth, money and status.
Employment and human
Resource development
The Minister had totally ignored to give the figures on the employment levels in the country and I believe this was deliberate as the unemployment figures are a shame to the government. Surely Internship cannot be used as a way of creating employment. One may argue that Interns are learning and probably acquiring skills but this cannot be equated to job creation .The Interns do not have a salary, a gratuity, insurance and no medical aid scheme to rely on. This therefore should not be regarded as a way of fighting unemployment.
The most famous Ipelegeng programme has been budgeted for P580,59million and it takes the largest share in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development budget. Surely this government has lost focus on what steps can be taken to create jobs for Batswana. Ministry of trade had shelved a project worth P240million which could create 5,000 permanent jobs in favour of Ipelegeng. Does this make economic sense? The Ipelegeng programme is not sustainable and makes our people live miserable lives. The P480,00 per month earned is in fact an insult to our people. What can one do with P480,00 over a month. This government is a joke .The UDC promises Batswana sustainable jobs.
Youth Empowerment Scheme is said to be a scheme that is used to train the Youth on how to run successful businesses and to instill some financial discipline on the Youth. We are informed that those who undergo this programme have better chances of being financed as compared to those who would not have the opportunity to partake in the scheme. Although this may sound like a noble idea it is worrisome that the training that those who have completed training are at times attached to government departments and paid a lousy P500,00 a month. Surely this government has no regard for human life and dignity. How do you expect these attachés to survive? They have to go to work properly dressed, they have to pay rent, they have to buy groceries for themselves and for their families. How do they manage all this at P500,00 a month? Let me acknowledge the fact that your Government is doing all that is in its power to fight poverty and destitution. The problem is you are wasting a lot of resources in programs that can not eradicate poverty but rather perpetuate it. You will agree with me that food basket for example can not be a means of eradicating poverty for it is not sustainable though desirable. People who are on the food basket programme I suppose are those who cannot graduate from it therefore this is by no means a way of eradicating poverty. Feeding scheme is one that alleviates poverty but surely cannot eradicate poverty. Ipelegeng ,this is one of the schemes that alleviates poverty but again can not be used to eradicate poverty.
Bagaetsho many of our people today depend on Ipelegeng for their survival, yet we all know that this programme is not sustainable and can not eradicate poverty. Batswana who work under this project do not necessarily like the programme nor do they want to work in it but the circumstances they find themselves in compels them to work in the Ipelegeng programme. They simply do not have a choice. 'Motswana a bo a re lemme ga le bolai'. You simply surrender to the circumstances.
Privatisation
The Minister indicates that the processes of privatising Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) are at an advanced stage and that there are also preparing for the privatisation of National Development Bank (NDB).
We in the UDC are against privatisation of these entities and instead we call for the revitalisation of these institutions .We have identified Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) as institutions that can be used for wealth generation in the Botswana economy.
It should also be known that we are not in favour of privatisation of the following: Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB), Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), National Development Bank (NDB), Botswana Savings Bank (BSB), Botswana Post (BP), Botswana Railways (BR), Air Botswana (AB), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) as we regard them as 'Strategic Public Assets' meaning that while they may not generate large or any profits they play a critical role in facilitating the desired economic and social outcomes of encouraging broader participation of citizens in the economy, deepen diversification initiative and encourage equity therefore no need to privatise them.
Workers in a democratic dispensation
It is not surprising that the BDP government has not said anything about workers and Trade Unions in the budget speech except to say the Public Service Bargaining Council is encouraged to expeditiously conclude its negotiations on salaries for the Public Service. There is no word of appreciation of the workers efforts to sustain the economy even under serious constraints. The workers of this country need to be commended for a job well done and we hope the government has put aside a considerable amount for salary increases. Our workers have gone for five years without salary adjustment. This was history in the making for this beautiful country called Botswana. Workers have suffered a lot under the Khama Regime this is time for change and change is what we are calling for. I appeal to the workers of this country not to despair but to soldier on as we approach the last days of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party government. The UDC promises cordial relationship with workers and their Trade Unions .We shall work together as partners in the development of our country.
Failure of BDP on
Infrastructural development
Water
Water remains a serious infrastructural problem in the country. Can the Minister tell the honorable house as to when this problem will be overcomed if ever?
Housing
BDP has failed to provide enough housing for the citizens of this country and there is no sign that that will be possible in the near future hence I appeal to the electorates to relieve the BDP and hand over power to us so we can implement our plans that can address their needs.
Power
This is another area where our government owes us a lot of explanations as to why we still experience power cuts despite all assurances made in the past that those days are gone.
Roads
Although the BDP government has done well in this area the maintenance of the infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired. We no longer have potholes but trenches. What is the plan on road maintenance?
Schools
We still have children who receive lessons under trees why? Batswana should demand what is rightly theirs.
Why is the BDP government continuing with the automatic promotion and then at the end they come up with a programme called back to school? UDC government promises to stop this automatic promotion in education. Education is a fundamental human right and the foundation of a nation hence we agree that it must be given a large share in the budget. We are however concerned that the current education system does not bring about the desired results. This year alone that is 2013 over 38,000 students wrote their Junior Certificate and only 325 got first class (A). This is a concern and we in UDC support the President in that some inquiry is necessary. Our children's future is at stake. We can only urge the government to establish the root cause of such poor results year after year.
Agriculture
A nation that is not self sufficient in food production/food security is a nation without a soul, therefore we need to find our souls. We cannot boost of political independence without economic independence hence our call for the second phase of the African Revolution. Radical change is required in order for Botswana to be self sufficient in food production.
Science and technology
We believe that science and technology ought to be advanced in our society if we are to catch up with the rest of the world. We would like to see the government putting more funds for the infrastructural development in the area of science and technology. We need Scientists for our research and development. It is our sincere belief that Batswana Scientists given a chance can take us to higher levels by doing research on large scale with support of the government.
Land
Acquiring a piece of land in Botswana is a challenge and acquiring a house is a nightmare. UDC promises to address this issue to avoid squatting, which in many cases is caused by delays in allocation of land to the people on time. The land tenure system will be looked into with a view to come up with a system that is fair to all. The current arrangement has failed us as a nation.
On Botswana Defence Force
and Botswana Police Service
UDC will cater for the Botswana Defense Force by making sure that our force is properly equipped to defend this country and its citizens at all times. We shall endeavour to provide proper accommodation for our men and women in uniform. The Botswana Police Service shall receive the same treatment as the defense force for we believe they are all protectors of the nation. Batswana should know that as they enjoy their sleep these men and women in uniform are out there patrolling our borders and our streets just to make sure we are protected from our enemies. We go to bed without fear for we know someone is out there protecting us. It is therefore paramount that we must give them enough resources to effectively carry out their duties.
Alternatives
by UDC Education
The UDC promises to offer quality education to Batswana by improving the Teacher Student ratio and have teachers specialising. Teachers are the backbone of a nation, without teachers there is none of us. You cannot have lawyers, doctors, scientists, teachers e.t.c without teachers. Our education shall be free and compulsory from early childhood up to form five. It shall be education with production to help produce skilled workers capable of self-employment thus reducing the burden of finding jobs for them by the government.The UDC government will introduce the medium of instruction in mother tongue at pre-primary and primary school level. English and Setswana will be taught as subjects for national integration.
Agriculture
UDC believes that food security is the backbone of a nation. A nation that is not self sufficient in food production is like a nation without a soul. We shall do all in our power to make sure Botswana is self sufficient in food production. To achieve our objectives we shall do the following:
1. Promotion of Agricultural Research on food production
2. Establishment of Agricultural Service Stations in Strategic places.
3. Introduce Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme and Insurance Scheme
4. Establish Producer and Consumer Cooperatives (This will help us do away with Ipelegeng)
5. Establish food processing industries.
6. Develop irrigation schemes
7. Establish a link between agricultural production and food processing industries.
Health
The UDC shall adopt a sustainable health care system based on the Alma Ata Declaration. We shall modernise and reform the health care system. We need to re-train our health workers to give them a sense of belonging as they have lost hope and are just working to make ends meet. To improve our health system we shall do the following:
1. Improve Health Workers conditions of service to recruit, attract and retain the best and brightest.
2. Establish a partnership between western and traditional medical approaches.
3. Embark on the promotion of research on diseases and drug development.
4. Establish a national health care council, independent of the Ministry of Health. The Council shall be reporting to parliament and advising the Parliamentary Health Committee and the Nation at large on health matters. The council will make sure the Ministry deliver on their mandate.
The Council will have representatives from the public, doctors, nurses, social services, business community, labour and economists.
5. The UDC government shall introduce what shall be known as National Health Insurance. We expect every citizen to have a health care insurance.
Housing
The UDC considers housing to be a right and not a privilege and therefore we shall endeavour to provide proper housing for the nation. W e shall therefore do the following to make sure every citizen has a decent and affordable house;
1. Botswana Housing Corporation shall revert to its original mandate of providing affordable houses to the nation. BHC will be tasked to build houses for the middle income class and the lower income classes. Those who can build for themselves shall be provided with land to do so.
2. The current tenant purchase scheme will be reviewed with a view of making it easily accessible and affordable.
3. First time homeowners not to be taxed Transfer Duty and Vat on building materials.
Land
Land is a rare commodity and does not increase but human beings do increase hence the need to manage land properly and fairly. In our efforts to bring about fair and equitable distribution of land we need to do the following:
1. Review the Land Tenure System that is, Freehold Land, State Land and Tribal Land.
2. Make sure there is fair and transparent allocation of land.
3. Establish a Land Development Bank to assist citizens in the development of their virgin land and to convert it into capital.
4. Land Audit to be carried out without fail so as to ensure transparency in ownership/holding of the land.
5.We shall develop control measures on the allocation and distribution of land to make sure every Motswana has a piece of land.
Nehemiah Modubule is MP for Lobatse and Leader of the UDC in parliament.