On behalf of the official opposition in Parliament, the UDC, Dithapelo Keorapetse on Wednesday responded to the Budget Speech that was delivered by the Finance Minister Peggy Serame this Monday. In what he termed a message of hope titled, ‘For the Many Not the Few: Odyssey of New National Economic Order’, the Leader of Opposition said the budget is unkind to the unemployed, the poor and those who are subsisting at the margins of the society. Keorapetse also said they have as the UDC listened, watched and read the fifth Budget Speech since the ruling party “dubiously got their quinquennial mandate in 2019.”
He said the party, at the helm its President, gave a litany of promises which undoubtedly proved that they regard telling the truth as simply no more than a life choice. He said they believe that a new order is in the offing beyond October 2024. “We remain resolute that 100, 000 meaningfully remunerating jobs within 12 months is achievable and that this economy can afford a living wage regime informed by empirical evidence on the cost of living. Those who are working must be paid a living wage of not less than P3, 500 if you consider our 2019 P3 000 living wage pledge. We believe that Old Age grants should not be anything less than P1, 500 for our senior citizens and we intend to start it at age 60,” he said.
