* Budget Theme
The theme for the budget was presented as "Accelerating Achievement of Vision 2016 through NDP 10." As usual, the Minister has chosen a theme whose relevance to the contents of the speech is difficult to appreciate. The 2008 budget speech does not spell out what the achievements of NDP 8 in relation to attaining the goals of NDP 8 have been, and further how NDP 9 will be used to accelerate those achievements. It has become apparent that the Minister regards the crafting of a theme for the annual budgets as a routine only necessary for completing the budget speech without paying attention to its relevance. It is our view as the BCP, that a theme must encapsulate the key proposals of the budget.
As we pointed out in our response to the last State of the Nation Address, available economic data demonstrates that the BDP government has failed to move Botswana close to the pillars of Vision 2016. It is ironical that the budget speech makes repeated reference to a prosperous life for all, when the reality is that the BDP has prevailed over an economy that has promoted high levels of inequality. Various Household Income and Expenditure Surveys have revealed that Botswana's wealth is by-passing significant sections of the population. Our view is that the Minister should have given consideration to interventions that can enable the economy to grow in a distributive manner and be more inclusive than has been the case in the past. This has not been done, making pronouncements of prosperity for all shameful rhetoric.
