No freedom of speech in BDP � Nasha
Leinanyana Tsiane | Wednesday June 8, 2016 16:38
She said government policies were called ‘the President’s policies’, which is “a thing that happens at BDP only”.
Nasha said government media was not allowed to cover gatherings of opposition political parties even as the ruling party ‘lured people’. She said the opposition would defeat the strategy by going directly to the people.
“At UDC I enjoy all the freedom I have always wanted and when we take power in 2019, the government policies will not be for one particular person,” she said at a weekend rally in Gantsi.
Nasha also charged that the constitution needs to be changed to reduce the powers of the President.
“The constitution of Botswana gives too much power to the President and we are the only country in the region, which is still stuck to this. The President appoints, fires, promotes and demotes army personnel,” she said.
Nasha said while at Parliament, she had fallen out of favour with ‘high ranking officials’ because she did not agree with the National Assembly “being controlled by the Office of the President”.
“I was totally against this and this made me unpopular. People connived to remove me from the National Assembly. I saw it coming and was wise enough to leave on my own,” she said. Nasha defended Gantsi North MP, Noah Salakae’s track record for development in the area saying he had been in the seat for a short time, while the former MP had “done nothing for more than 20 years”.
Also addressing the rally, Gaborone North MP, Haskins Nkaigwa, vowed that the UDC would take power in 2019, while Botswana Congress Party secretary general, Kentse Rammidi said the political scene had been shaken by the likelihood of opposition party unity in 2019.
“Let’s rally behind each other and topple the BDP in 2019,” he said.