The BCP says what is concerning is the growth rates of investment, productivity, external competitiveness, and the economy in general, have fallen drastically short of the levels required. As a result, the BCP says it aims to address unemployment, stagnating wages, poverty, and economic exclusion if it wins the elections at the end of this month. Furthermore, in the manifesto, the BCP has said that it will initiate reforms towards building a high-performance economy that creates an average of 60, 000 good jobs a year and expands opportunities. The party says that it proposes a climate-sensitive high-wage economy that works for all generations. Among its key promises ahead of the General Election on October 30, the BCP has indicated that it offers an economy that sustains a living wage of P4, 000 per month by 2029; 300, 000 new jobs by 2029, and a job in every household by 2029 to eradicate abject poverty. Moreover, the BCP says that it will make available an expanded modern and efficient infrastructure network across sectors, with universal access to high-speed internet connectivity as a fundamental human right.
Further, key pledges for the BCP include reclaiming exported jobs through movement up value chains, and a redefinition of the tourism product to maximise and domesticate value. “We will build an economy that works for all - a competitive, diversified, and resilient economy whose growth is rapid, inclusive, and sustainable. Botswana deserves, and should have, an economy that grows at a sustained and broad based 6-8% per annum in real per capita GDP terms and creates secure good paying employment at an average annual rate of 60, 000 between 2025 and 2029,” reads part of the manifesto. The BCP says the economy it wants will be driven by enterprise, in both the private and public sectors; investment and trade; globally competitive human capital; quality infrastructure, including high-speed internet connectivity and efficiency-enhancing technology and productivity growth. “We want an economy that creates enough decent jobs for citizens to afford three nutritionally adequate meals a day, decent housing, clothing, health, education, and savings for investment and to manage life-cycle risks. We are far from this ideal. The economy is not working for Batswana. The situation of the youth, poor people, workers, women, children, the elderly, people living with disabilities and rural dwellers tells a sad tale of economic exclusion and poverty amidst plenty,” the BCP further states in the manifesto.
