A look at BDP, UDC key manifesto issues

Healthcare

At least both parties agree that the healthcare sector needs to be transformed as a matter of urgency. But each party has its own way of trying to address the crises ,which currently includes shortage of medicines, among others.

BDP: The ruling party, which launched its manifesto this past weekend, says primary healthcare remains the pillar of Botswana’s healthcare delivery system considering the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The BDP has committed to developing policies consistent with holistic healthcare services. In transforming healthcare access, the party says it will develop and make use of electronic health records so that information on patients, including their medical history, demographics, treatment, and medication, is easily available to healthcare practitioners for quick and efficient responses to patient needs. The BDP also plans to prepare the healthcare institutions for telemedicine, where medical care will be delivered remotely so that people do not have to travel long distances to access medical services. The BDP manifesto includes a pledge to promote the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency and innovation in the healthcare sector and modernise hospital infrastructure and develop an asset management system.

Further, health pledges for the BDP in the healthcare sector include training more medical doctors, nurses and other healthcare giver professions to improve patient-to-patient-caregiver ratio. The BDP also highlighted that it will develop an agile and responsive public health institute to deal with emergencies, epidemics and other health threats.

UDC: The UDC says that it will make available safe, efficacious, quality and affordable medicines for Batswana. Under its healthcare plans, the coalition which consists of the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and the Alliance for Progressives (AP), said during the manifesto launched last month that its government intends to introduce a National Health Insurance Scheme that will afford all Batswana access to health services. The UDC has also said it will establish a comprehensive mental health system and ensure quality Ante and Post-natal care that will ensure that both the mother and childcare are provided for from the beginning. “The UDC believes that no mother has to die while delivering life. We will provide three months package of sanitary ware for the mothers and babies and a three hundred pula (P300/pm) per month allowance for the baby thereafter until the baby turns one-year-old,” read part of the manifesto. The UDC added that particular attention will be paid to early childhood development in keeping with the WHO recommendations on social determinants of health. Other key pledges include a promise to ensure there is a transparent medicines pricing system that enables access to medicines at affordable prices by the public.

Education Botswana's education system is on a free fall with shortage of books and poor results, so parties have made a number of pledges on education.

BDP: The BDP has vowed to accelerate the implementation of the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP), which provides for multiple pathways from primary school through to tertiary. The BDP says multiple pathways present pupils and students with the opportunity to identify their areas of strength and talents at an early stage and pursue them throughout the various levels of the education system. The BDP also revealed that if it gets re-elected in the next month’s elections, it will fully implement an outcome-based education system. “The BDP will develop requisite infrastructure and facilities to enable implementation of the ETSSP and accelerate the implementation of early childhood education and care. The party will train and re-orientate teachers to deliver ETSSP,” the party further indicated in the manifesto. The BDP says it will promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education at all levels to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled researchers and innovators and also expand access and inclusion using technology-related teaching platforms.

UDC: A centrepiece of UDC's policy on education is a promise to overhaul the current education system and introduce and institutionalise STEAM-based education and human resource development system within a year. The UDC says in addition it will provide funding for the establishment of state-of- the-art laboratories, libraries and computer facilities to improve STEM skills and knowledge. The UDC also promises to implement an accelerated infrastructural project to build and maintain school buildings including classrooms, laboratories, libraries and information technology (IT) service centres, student hostels, staff houses and requisite infrastructure and facilities. The UDC added that if it is voted into government next month it will review the current policy, programmes and facilities on vocational training and align them with the requirements of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the demand for skills in the market. “The UDC will establish a national Research and Development Fund, which will be accessible to all accredited tertiary academic institutions to address the scientific and technological needs of the country as well as STEAM Education programmes,” further reads part of the manifesto.

Tourism

Tourism, a critical contributor to Botswana's economy is also one of the sectors which have been highlighted by both parties.

BDP: The BDP says it will diversify the tourism industry to include culture, cuisine and sports tourism and develop legislation that promotes citizen inclusion. “The BDP will increase citizen participation in the high end tourism market through reserving land concessions and providing support for their growth. We will leverage the allure of Botswana’s creative offerings to attract tourists and stimulate demand for creative goods and services,” the party says in its policy. The BDP added that it will promote the development of cultural villages to enhance the nation’s cultural identity. The BDP also vowed to develop innovative offerings like mine tours, cultural experiences, and adventure activities and also develop world-class turn-key accommodation facilities, cable cars and recreational amenities around dams, heritage sites and along tourist trails.

UDC: The UDC says in their manifesto that under the BDP government, the current tourism policy, which is high-value-low-volume, excludes many Batswana from participating in the sector. The UDC added that its government will develop a comprehensive and inclusive tourism plan, which will empower Batswana to fully participate and benefit in the sector. “We will outline a set of interventions to protect and rejuvenate supply, reignite demand and strengthen enabling capability for long-term sustainability. One of the strategic outcomes of the UDC Tourism Sector Plan will be the implementation of the Tourism Equity Fund (TEF) as part of strengthening the sector’s supply side in a manner that will address the reconstruction of the sector and advancement of transformation through enabling expanded participation of citizens in the sector,” reads part of the UDC manifesto on their tourism policy.

Manufacturing

In the manufacturing sector, which includes among others, clothing, textiles, leather and footwear value-chain, the UDC underlined that its government will work with the private sector to develop a plan on the resuscitation of the sector by promoting manufacture of school, prisons, police and army uniforms in Botswana, including retail shops and private security companies. The UDC has also committed to protecting domestic industries under the relevant trade provisions to spur up domestic demand, which will increase job opportunities.

The BDP, on the other side, says it will place industrialisation at the core of their development strategy and that its industrialisation strategy will focus on value chain development where key value chain clusters will include manufacturing. Through their eMobility City initiative, the BDP says it will push for the manufacturing of Complete Knock-Down (CKD) vehicles, which will contribute to decarbonisation, reducing unemployment, and spurring Botswana into the knowledge economy. “Preceding this will be the manufacturing of critical components for electric mobility,” the BDP revealed in the manifesto. The BDP also added that it will encourage the establishment of local manufacturing plants for EV components, including batteries, leveraging Botswana’s reserves of rare-earth and battery-grade metals like lithium, manganese, cobalt, graphite, steel, and nickel.

Mining

Through mineral beneficiation, the BDP says it will promote the online mining cadastre system, significantly boosting transparency, efficiency and investor confidence while enhancing government revenue collection and driving exploration with precise, accessible information. The BDP says it will increase mining revenue by operationalising three dynamic companies which will focus on mineral exploration, providing mining services, investing in mining opportunities in Botswana and internationally. “The BDP will facilitate and offer all the necessary support to local companies to mine and beneficiate new energy minerals such as copper, silver concentrate and manganese.” The BDP has also sworn to create opportunities for Batswana to invest in the mining industry by offering them shares in emerging mining ventures. The BDP also says it will host the Kimberley Process Permanent Secretariat in Botswana, championing transparency. The UDC however doesn’t pledge anything on the mining sector in its manifesto.

Agriculture

BDP: On agriculture, the party has committed to establishing seed farms through the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) in partnership with the private sector, prioritising staples and horticulture. The BDP also says it will establish smaller farms dedicated to small stock ranging from 1-3m2 as cluster production centres. The party says it will develop aquaculture and vigorously support wetlands areas first and other parts of the country to diversify production away from arable agriculture, particularly in premier tourism regions. “The BDP will increase access to water for farmers. Rainfall in Botswana is erratic and climate change has worsened the situation. A need for conjunctive use of rainfed agriculture and groundwater-based irrigation has become a necessity. The BDP will respond to this necessary climate change adaptation by conducting a national groundwater exploration prioritising agro-production centers and develop support for farmers and communities to access desalination packages to make water available for arable and livestock farming, on a cost sharing basis,” the BDP emphasised. Similarly, the UDC said it will promote and intensify irrigated agriculture in potential areas of the country. The coalition which says that the BDP government has failed the agricultural sector, said if it wins the elections, it would classify farmers according to their environmental/geographical and socio-economic conditions in order to target appropriate technical and financial support. “The UDC government will intensify and expand the commercialisation of potential farmers through effective and efficient extension, research and appropriate Farmers Commodity Groups.”