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BCP bound Dow says SONA lacks hope

Dow has not missed any opportunity to take a swipe at the BDP PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Dow has not missed any opportunity to take a swipe at the BDP PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Following her dramatic exit from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in May, Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Unity Dow has not missed any opportunity to take a swipe at the party and its leadership.

Yesterday was no different when she responded to President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) address. “I must start with a bit of honesty – the address did not fill me with hope. The address was neither inspirational nor aspirational.

People do not frame their problems, nor do they expect solutions to their problems to be framed in big, complicated words or phrases,” she said.

Dow, who at the end of her speech dropped another bombshell, announcing that she will contest under the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) ticket in next year’s general election, went to state what she thinks are priority areas for Batswana who were listening to the President on Monday.

She mentioned food, land, employment and health as areas Masisi should have concentrated on in his address.

“Why is there no consistency on whether the government has money or not? The Minister of Finance says there is money and that the problem is the Minister of Health who is not spending the money. The Minister of Local Government says there is no money and that is why her aunt has to go on and off the Ipelegeng roster,” she said. Dow further stated that the government does not have any clear strategies on how to move Botswana forward.“

“That there is no new, bold, decisive strategy to reform, transform or diversify this economy. Period! Nothing. Nada! Zero!,” she said.

“We know that with the right leadership, we could be the future king of solar energy in the region, and we know that continuing to invest in coal, regardless of the seeming shift in international thinking as a result of the Russia/Ukraine War, is the wrong path to take. “We have loads of coal. We have lots of sun. It is easier to continue with coal. It takes bold leadership to plan for the future and to pivot to renewable energy. As long as we continue to plan for elections, Botswana will continue to stagnate,” she noted.Dow did not mince her words lambasting the current leadership. Asked by the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare why she is only pointing out the ‘bad and the rot’ now when she too has been a Cabinet minister, Dow responded that any organisation takes the lead of the leader.

She rhetorically told the youthful minister that he too knows very well that Cabinet caucuses always follow what the leader wants even if one has a dissenting view. In the end, she dropped a shocker, smiling and stalling, asking other Members of Parliament (MPs) to guess her new political home.

“For those wondering what I am doing next, I take this opportunity to announce my membership of the BCP and my intention to offer myself for election during the 2024 General Election.”

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

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