Economic Stimulus Package �Strictly for BDP, by BDP'
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday October 13, 2015 18:00
The party also resolved that minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Eric Molale will spearhead the monitoring of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP).
The ruling party weekend consultative meeting also agreed that it is advisable that one of the ministers and MPs should monitor the project to keep away saboteurs and opposition operatives in the civil service.
“Our fear is that some civil servants do sabotage government programmes because they are opposition party sympathisers. Our MPs and ministers will be working closely with companies that had been engaged to ensure that projects are done well in time,” the source said.
The BDP insider further revealed it was agreed that each ministry should go and compile necessary information on what their first priority needs are. One example is that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development should come up with a budget for 144 classrooms and 92 labs.
“All the budget for Economic Stimulus Package might take two to three months. It should be known that it will pass through Parliament for approval and will be requested as a supplementary budget. The government cannot go and take money without consultation with Parliament for approval,” the source said.
Also committees would be established, whose mandate will be to help Molale monitor the projects. In response, all the BDP secretary general Botsalo Ntuane could say was that BDP is back in business through their president and they had taken ownership of public policy.
“The party is now in charge of the country and will dictate public policy. This programme will create thousands upon thousands of jobs, diversify the economy as well as stimulate citizen economic empowerment. As BDP we invite Batswana to set up companies to utilise ESP. We mean all Batswana irrespective of political affiliation,” Ntuane said.
He said the President and relevant portfolio ministers would announce the details of the ESP in due course. On other internal party issues, the BDP structures, especially regions and branches, had been tasked with coming up with ideas to help improve party performance.