Khama Derides UB Rioters, Delays NDP10

OLIVER MODISE
Correspondent | Monday March 30, 2009 00:00

 

Khama said this addressing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members on discipline at the party's national council.

At his first BDP national council address as president, Khama revealed that one of the issues that continues to trouble him to date is the level of indiscipline at the University of Botswana (UB).

He said that the recent strike at UB  led to vandalism and damage of UB property estimated at P300,000.

He said that the vandalism that UB vice chancellor, Bojosi Otlhogile, attributed to the students was a direct challenge to his government's efforts to bring about quality education.

He said that the BDP government was committed to distributing the country's resources equitably and ensuring that the education and health sector are well financed to benefit Batswana.

Khama said that the disturbance at UB denied other Batswana an opportunity to learn.

He reasoned that the money spent on maintenance of damaged property and payment of salaries to lecturers who were not teaching as a result of the class boycott was enough to have paid for several students who did not get an opportunity to be admitted to UB.

Although disciplinary hearings are still ongoing, Khama warned that in the future action will be taken against those who go on the rampage destroying property.

Khama said that his party was committed to educating as many hardworking Batswana as possible to ensure that they provide for themselves and their families and the nation in the future.

'I cannot allow a handful of people to distabilise a national programme intended to benefit all Batswana,' he warned.

Khama criticised the UB students who went on strike as selfish for striking for lame issues such as the right to be allowed a second sponsorship for courses they deliberately failed.

He also accused as 'irresponsible' those politicians and adults who encouraged the students to strike.

Khama also briefed BDP members about his initiatives in the wake of the global financial crisis stating that he had resolved to delay by 12 months the implementation of National Development Plan 10.