BCP vows to extend maternity leave
Lekopanye Mooketsi | Tuesday August 12, 2014 11:59
Launching the party’s candidate for Gaborone Bonnington North, Anna Motlhagodi on Sunday, Saleshando said the 14-week maternity was in line with International Labour Organisation stipulations.
“We are going to address labour issues,” he said.
“We will make sure that pensions are compulsory for every worker and also do away with the minimum wage and instead introduce a living wage.
“Our position is that workers should be paid according to the cost of living.”
Saleshando said in South Africa, petrol attendants were earning more than P3,000 per month while in Botswana, they were only receiving around P1,000.
“This is because the Botswana Democratic Party government is attracting foreign investors on the basis of offering them cheap labour,” he told the launch.
The opposition leader said the BCP would prosecute all government officials suspected of corruption, once it takes office. He said the BDP had become synonymous with corruption and needed to be replaced.
“If you stop corruption that could lead to the demise of BDP,” he said.
“Botswana will soon become like other African countries where you find that the head of state is richer than the country.”
Saleshando praised Motlhagodi as a seasoned and tested politician whom he said was among the party’s founders. For her part Motlhagodi pleaded with voters to support her as she said she could make a difference in their in lives via Parliament.
“My intention is to raise your concerns in Parliament,” she said.
“This constituency is facing so many challenges. There is no sewerage system in some areas and Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) houses flood when it is raining.
“We also have a high crime rate in this area.”
Motlhagodi said it was not true that national coffers did not have funds to develop the constituency as billions of Pula “are returned every year by departments instead of going to development”.