BCP slams govt over food and energy crisis

MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent | Thursday July 24, 2008 00:00

Speaking during the BCP fourth national congress in Bobonong on Sunday, Saleshando said the government has failed the agricultural sector and neglected to tackle the imminent energy shortage. 'The BDP government has failed the agricultural sector to an extent that it has totally collapsed. The current food crisis and soaring prices are a clear indication of this failure,' Saleshando said. He asserted that the government does not have an answer to the food crisis.

Saleshando said the proposed initiative to mitigate the effects of soaring food prices is yet another example of 'lack of cohesiveness' in BDP policies on how to revive the agricultural sector. He said at first, the government said it will buy tractors for all farmers. Then the government changed and said it will buy tractors to 100 select farmers to produce for the whole nation. There was another about turn when government said it will no longer buy tractors but instead it would plough for everybody. Salishando said the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Baledzi Gaolathe recently announced that the government is still assessing how it can help farmers.

'The minister's assertion is probably the most accurate of them all. All other promises were pure rhetoric aimed at exciting the farming community for the elections,' he said.

On the energy crisis, the BCP leader said the BDP government has over the years, peddled a falsehood that it was cheaper for Botswana to import electricity. But this has proved costly in the long run. 'The energy crisis we face is a result of policy failure,' Saleshando said. He challenged government to come clean on the Mmamabula energy project. 'There appears to be more to it than meets the eye'. The BCP has resolved to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the full reasons for the current power shortages and the collapse of the Activox project at Tati mine. 'The congress is of the view that the government has been less than candid on these projects that are of national importance,' the BCP said in its resolutions. Saleshando said Batswana continue to be minor players in key economic sectors such as mining, tourism and manufacturing. He noted that the challenge is to come up with policies that meaningfully empower Batswana economically and a long-term employment creation strategy as opposed to piece meal and unrealistic ideas. He said it was crucial for the government to conduct comprehensive research to identify areas where viable businesses can be established.

He advised the government to establish state-owned enterprises in identified key areas and ensure that these are sustainable and commercially run. Saleshando said the enterprises should immediately be privatised by selling them to employees and other citizens. The proceeds should be used to establish other enterprises. 'This will not only create jobs but it will ensure that we empower our citizens and create wealth for our people. Wealth creation is the foundation for future private sector investments,' Saleshando said. He added that this approach will enable government to create economic linkages between rural and urban economies.