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Opposition promises will collapse economy – Masisi

Masisi. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Masisi. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

SELEBI-PHIKWE: President Mokgweetsi Masisi over the weekend told a political gathering that promises made by opposition parties in their manifestos would collapse the economy if implemented.

Since the 2024 election cycle began, various parties have been throwing digits around to lure voters as the country gears up for the General Election slated for next week. Speaking to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members on Saturday, Masisi said the pledges made by opposition parties aren't feasible as they are bound to collapse the economy within two months of implementation. Masisi, who was launching both the Phikwe East and West BDP candidates, said all the opposition knows is to throw numbers around without assessing the repercussions of their promises on the economy. He said people shouldn't vote for the opposition with their unreasonable pledges which have the potential to cripple the economy. Amongst its key promises ahead of the October 30 polls, opposition outfit Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has indicated that it offers an economy that sustains a living wage of P4,000 per month by 2029.

Additionally, the party promised 300,000 new jobs by 2029, and a job in every household by 2029 to eradicate abject poverty. On the other hand, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president, Duma Boko, said amongst their promises is to make sure that the elderly who take care of their grandchildren in the village are paid a monthly allowance of P1,800. “By the end of November, if the UDC wins the elections, you should see an EFT alert on your phone indicating that P1,800 has been credited into your account,” Boko promised. One of his pledges is to ensure that Batswana, especially the young, get decent jobs. “I'm not talking about Ipelegeng, I want them to have dignity and to live better lives with sustainable jobs. They shouldn't earn a salary which is less than P4,000. That’s the UDC promise,” Boko’s said. The coalition has committed to creating from 450,000 to 500,000 jobs within five years and building an economy that can sustain average salaries of P10,000 or more.

Editor's Comment
No room for perjury

It seems some government accounting officers, sworn to tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing else but the truth" before Almighty God, may have deliberately lied during the committee’s vital work. If proven, this is not merely unprofessional; it is perjury, a serious criminal offence and it strikes at the very heart of responsible government.The PAC’s role is fundamental. After each financial year, it painstakingly examines how public...

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